Clarification of Tawhid and Gathering the People Upon It

Question:
Shaykh Salih, this is a great topic. It is required of the people of knowledge, and the scholars bear a great responsibility in clarifying tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and explaining pure tawhid for Allah, Mighty and Majestic. We would like to conclude this meeting with a word from you on this topic, O Shaykh.

Answer:
Yes, tawhid (the oneness of Allah) must be explained to people: explaining tawhid and forbidding shirk (associating partners with Allah). What is shirk? Because some people believe that shirk is shirk in lordship, meaning that you believe someone creates, provides, and manages affairs alongside Allah. Most people do not say this; the majority of the world does not hold this view. The polytheists acknowledge the oneness of Allah in lordship alone, but this is not sufficient. What is required is tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship), which is singling out Allah in worship, singling out Allah in the acts of worship He has prescribed for them, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, supplication, calling for aid, and so on. You single out these types of worship for Allah alone. This is what is required. Every prophet said to his people, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no god other than Him." Many of the callers to Islam today, and many of the sects and groups, do not care about tawhid; rather, they may forbid calling to it, saying that it divides people. Yes, shirk is what divides people. ? It is shirk that divides people, whereas tawhid is what unites people. What united the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the Arab and the non-Arab, the white and the black? What united them except the word of tawhid, "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah)? As for shirk, it is what divides people. And if a call to Islam does not begin with tawhid at its start, it is a failed call and accomplishes nothing. Yes.