Discussion of tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship).

The Shaykh : As for tawhid al-uluhiyyah, which is also called tawhid al-'ibadah (oneness of worship) in two respects: in respect of its attribution to Allah, it is called tawhid al-uluhiyyah; and in respect of its attribution to creation, it is called tawhid al-'ibadah. It is singling out Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for worship. This is tawhid al-'ibadah or al-uluhiyyah: singling out Allah alone for worship, for He is the One who is worthy of being worshipped, (Glorified and Exalted is He). Worship is used for both the act of worship and that which is worshipped. When "worship" is mentioned, it applies to both the act of worship and the object of worship. In the first sense, the meaning of worship is humbling oneself to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by doing His commands and avoiding His prohibitions, out of love for Him and exalting Him. This is in the sense of what? The act of worship. Yes. As for the second sense, worship, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Worship is a comprehensive name for everything that Allah loves and is pleased with, of words and deeds, apparent and hidden" such as prayer, Hajj, fasting, zakah, and other acts of worship. This is what is meant by what? The object of worship. Good. Singling out Allah (the Exalted) for this is tawhid. So do not be a slave to anyone other than Him, and do not take anyone other than Him as a god. Make your god, whom you single out for humility, love, and exaltation, the Lord of the worlds (Mighty and Majestic), as He (the Exalted) said: And He said: And what follows? So Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) described Him as the Lord of the worlds. This description is like a reason for the establishment of His divinity. Praise be to Allah. He is the god because He is the Lord of the worlds. So do not direct your worship to anyone other than Him, for that is from foolishness. It is from foolishness to make a created being, one that comes into existence and is destined to perish, a god whom you worship and draw near to, when in reality he has not benefited you, neither by creating, nor by preparing, nor by providing. Everyone other than Allah does not benefit you in these three things: not by creating, not by preparing, not by providing. Who is it that created you, prepared you, and made you ready for what you were created for, and who provided you with what enables you to carry out these commands?
The student: Allah

The Shaykh : Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Is it fitting for a person of reason to make a god alongside Allah, who is unique in creation? It is not fitting. And if you wish, read the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic): This is the One worthy of worship, (Glorified and Exalted is He), and no one else. It is from foolishness to come to the grave of a person who has become dust and worship him. This buried one is in need of your supplication, and you are not in need of supplicating to him. He does not possess for himself now any benefit or harm, ever. If you asked these dead people and looked into their state, you would know that they cannot benefit anyone, even if it were the highest of people in rank with Allah (Mighty and Majestic), namely the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), for he does not benefit you. Do not worship except Allah.
The types of worship are many, and the author (may Allah have mercy on him) in this book referred to many of them. As for tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes), before I move on to the second section, this second section is one in which most of creation disbelieved and denied it. Most of creation deny this and disbelieve in it. And for that reason, the messengers were sent to their people. Every messenger, every messenger to whom Allah relates his news to us, says: "To such-and-such tribe or such-and-such nation, your brother so-and-so: Worship Allah. You have no god other than Him." They all call to this tawhid, because the nations were denying it and rejecting it. And who follows these messengers? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw them and said: So most of creation are deniers of this tawhid, even though it is what the messengers called to, and it is what souls, wealth, and lands were made lawful to be taken for, if a person does not establish it. And it is amazing that many of the authors in the science of tawhid focus heavily on tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), as if they are addressing people who deny the Lord and His existence. I do not doubt that there are people who deny the Lord and His existence, but how many Muslims are there who want to be Muslims while in reality they are falling into this shirk (associating partners with Allah), namely shirk in worship. And for this reason, we should focus on this with great emphasis so that we may expose these Muslims who say they are Muslims while they are polytheists and do not know it. Therefore, I hope from you, my brothers, that we focus on this, especially in the lands that have been afflicted with this type of shirk.