Shedding Light on the Importance of Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship)
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In the present age, research, writings, and lectures are abundant in proving the existence of Allah and affirming His Lordship, without using that as evidence for its necessary consequence and implication, which is Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (oneness of worship). This has led to ignorance of Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah and negligence regarding its matter. It would be excellent if you would shed light on the importance of Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah, in that it is the foundation of salvation, the center of it, and the key to the call of the messengers (peace be upon them), and the principle upon which all else is built.
Answer: There is no doubt that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent the messengers and sent down the books to clarify His right over His servants and to call them to devote worship to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He) alone, excluding everything else, and to single Him out with all their acts of worship. This is because most of the people of the earth have known that Allah is their Lord, Creator, and Provider, but they fell into shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Him (Glorified and Exalted is He) by directing their worship, or some of it, to other than Him, out of ignorance of this and following the tradition of their fathers and ancestors, as happened to the people of Noah and the nations after them, and as happened to the early members of this Ummah (Muslim community). When the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) called them to the oneness of Allah, they rejected it and were arrogant in accepting it. They said, as Allah mentioned about them: [Surat Sad: 5] This is in Surat Sad. And He (Mighty and Majestic) said about them in Surat al-Saffat: [As-Saffat 37:35] And they say, "Are we really to leave our gods for a mad poet?" [Surat al-Saffat: 35-36]. And He (Mighty and Majestic) said about them in Surat al-Zukhruf: [Surat al-Zukhruf: 23]. The verses in this meaning are many.
It is obligatory upon the scholars of the Muslims and the callers to guidance to clarify to people the reality of tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship)... and the difference between it and tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes); because many Muslims are ignorant of this, let alone others. The disbelievers of Quraysh and other Arabs, and most of the nations, knew that Allah is their Creator and their Provider. For this reason, He the Exalted argued with them by this, for He (Exalted and Majestic is He) is the one who deserves to be worshipped, because He is their Creator and their Provider and the One who has power over them... in all respects, as He the Exalted said:[al-Zukhruf:87] And He said:: [Luqman:25] And He said:commanding His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to ask them who provides for them:[Yunus 10:31] Allah the Exalted said:[Yunus:31] And the verses in this meaning are numerous. He the Exalted argues with them by what they acknowledged of Him being their Lord, their Creator, their Provider, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and the Manager of affairs, regarding what they denied of the oneness of worship, and the invalidity of worshipping idols and statues, and everything else they worship besides Allah.
And thus He the Exalted commanded His servants to believe in His names and attributes, and to purify Him from resembling the creation. He the Exalted said:[al-A'raf:180] And He said in Surat al-Hashr:[Surah al-Hashr:22] to the end of the surah, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Al-Ikhlas 112:1] Allah is the Self-SufficientHe did not beget nor was He begottenand there is none comparable to Him[Surah al-Ikhlas:1-4] and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Surah al-Baqarah:22] and He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[Surah al-Shura:11] and the verses in this meaning are numerous.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have clarified that Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (oneness of lordship) necessitates Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (oneness of worship) — which is singling out Allah with worship — and it obligates and requires it. For this reason, Allah argued with them on that basis.
And likewise, Tawhid al-Asma' wa al-Sifat (oneness of the names and attributes) necessitates singling out Allah with worship and making Him unique in it, because He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is perfect in His essence, in His names and attributes, and He is the Bestower of blessings upon His servants. So He is the one who deserves to be worshipped, and to obey His commands and refrain from His prohibitions.
As for Tawhid al-'Ibadah (oneness of worship), it includes the two types and encompasses them for the one who realizes it and stands firm upon it in knowledge and action... The scholars have elaborated on the explanation of this meaning in books of creed and exegesis, such as [Tafsir: Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir, and al-Baghawi], and others, and [Kitab al-Sunnah] by Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmad, and [Kitab al-Tawhid] by Ibn Khuzaymah. The scholar Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi refuted Bishr al-Murisi and others of the scholars of the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) in their books. Among those who excelled in this was Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and his student the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on both of them) in their books.
And likewise, the leaders of the Islamic call in the twelfth century and after, such as the Shaykh Imam: Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), and his sons and students... and their followers from the people of the Sunnah and the community.
Among the best written on this is [Fath al-Mujid], and its original is [Taysir al-'Aziz al-Hamid]. The first is by the Shaykh: Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him), and the second is by the Shaykh Sulayman ibn Abdullah al-Sheikh (may Allah have mercy on him).
Among the best compiled on this are the first parts of al-Durar al-Saniyyah, which were compiled by the scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him). He collected in it the fatwas of the leaders of the call from the al-Sheikh family and others of the scholars of the twelfth century and after, regarding creed and rulings. So I advise you to read and review it, and other books of the scholars of the Sunnah, for the great benefit therein.
Among that is the first collection of letters of the leaders of the call from the al-Sheikh family and others (may Allah have mercy on them), and the refutations of the Shaykhs: the Shaykh: Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan, the Shaykh: Abd al-Latif ibn Abd al-Rahman, the Shaykh: Abdullah Aba Batin, the Shaykh: Sulayman ibn Sahman, and others of the leaders of guidance and supporters of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), for the benefit therein and the removal of many doubts, and the refutation of their people (may Allah have mercy on them all with a wide mercy, and settle them in the spacious Paradise, and make us among their followers with excellence).
Among that are the issues of (Al-Buhuth al-Islamiyyah Magazine) published by the General Presidency for Islamic Affairs, Research, Da'wah, and Guidance; for the great articles and many benefits therein regarding creed and rulings.
Among that are the first volumes of the fatwas and articles issued by me regarding creed, which are printed — by the praise of Allah — and available to students of knowledge. May Allah make them beneficial. And other than that, which is — by the praise of Allah — elaborated in the books of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and Allah is the One who grants success.
Answer: There is no doubt that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent the messengers and sent down the books to clarify His right over His servants and to call them to devote worship to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He) alone, excluding everything else, and to single Him out with all their acts of worship. This is because most of the people of the earth have known that Allah is their Lord, Creator, and Provider, but they fell into shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Him (Glorified and Exalted is He) by directing their worship, or some of it, to other than Him, out of ignorance of this and following the tradition of their fathers and ancestors, as happened to the people of Noah and the nations after them, and as happened to the early members of this Ummah (Muslim community). When the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) called them to the oneness of Allah, they rejected it and were arrogant in accepting it. They said, as Allah mentioned about them:
Has He made the gods one God? Indeed, this is something extraordinary.
أَجَعَلَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌIndeed they, when it was said to them, "There is no deity but Allah," were arrogant
إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ Indeed, we found our fathers upon a religion, and we are in their footsteps [rightly] guided."
إِنَّا وَجَدْنَا آبَاءَنَا عَلَى أُمَّةٍ وَإِنَّا عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ مُقْتَدُونَIt is obligatory upon the scholars of the Muslims and the callers to guidance to clarify to people the reality of tawhid al-uluhiyyah (oneness of worship)... and the difference between it and tawhid al-rububiyyah (oneness of lordship), and tawhid al-asma' wa al-sifat (oneness of the names and attributes); because many Muslims are ignorant of this, let alone others. The disbelievers of Quraysh and other Arabs, and most of the nations, knew that Allah is their Creator and their Provider. For this reason, He the Exalted argued with them by this, for He (Exalted and Majestic is He) is the one who deserves to be worshipped, because He is their Creator and their Provider and the One who has power over them... in all respects, as He the Exalted said:
And if you asked them who created them, they would surely say, "Allah."
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَهُمْ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُAnd if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth?" they would surely say, "Allah."
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُSay, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?"
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَThey will say, "Allah," so say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلا تَتَّقُونَAnd thus He the Exalted commanded His servants to believe in His names and attributes, and to purify Him from resembling the creation. He the Exalted said:
And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them
وَلِلَّهِ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى فَادْعُوهُ بِهَاHe is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
هُوَ اللَّهُ الَّذِي لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُSay, "He is Allah, [who is] One,
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَThere is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُThe scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have clarified that Tawhid al-Rububiyyah (oneness of lordship) necessitates Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (oneness of worship) — which is singling out Allah with worship — and it obligates and requires it. For this reason, Allah argued with them on that basis.
And likewise, Tawhid al-Asma' wa al-Sifat (oneness of the names and attributes) necessitates singling out Allah with worship and making Him unique in it, because He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is perfect in His essence, in His names and attributes, and He is the Bestower of blessings upon His servants. So He is the one who deserves to be worshipped, and to obey His commands and refrain from His prohibitions.
As for Tawhid al-'Ibadah (oneness of worship), it includes the two types and encompasses them for the one who realizes it and stands firm upon it in knowledge and action... The scholars have elaborated on the explanation of this meaning in books of creed and exegesis, such as [Tafsir: Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir, and al-Baghawi], and others, and [Kitab al-Sunnah] by Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmad, and [Kitab al-Tawhid] by Ibn Khuzaymah. The scholar Uthman ibn Sa'id al-Darimi refuted Bishr al-Murisi and others of the scholars of the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) in their books. Among those who excelled in this was Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, and his student the scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on both of them) in their books.
And likewise, the leaders of the Islamic call in the twelfth century and after, such as the Shaykh Imam: Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab (may Allah have mercy on him), and his sons and students... and their followers from the people of the Sunnah and the community.
Among the best written on this is [Fath al-Mujid], and its original is [Taysir al-'Aziz al-Hamid]. The first is by the Shaykh: Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him), and the second is by the Shaykh Sulayman ibn Abdullah al-Sheikh (may Allah have mercy on him).
Among the best compiled on this are the first parts of al-Durar al-Saniyyah, which were compiled by the scholar Abd al-Rahman ibn Qasim (may Allah have mercy on him). He collected in it the fatwas of the leaders of the call from the al-Sheikh family and others of the scholars of the twelfth century and after, regarding creed and rulings. So I advise you to read and review it, and other books of the scholars of the Sunnah, for the great benefit therein.
Among that is the first collection of letters of the leaders of the call from the al-Sheikh family and others (may Allah have mercy on them), and the refutations of the Shaykhs: the Shaykh: Abd al-Rahman ibn Hasan, the Shaykh: Abd al-Latif ibn Abd al-Rahman, the Shaykh: Abdullah Aba Batin, the Shaykh: Sulayman ibn Sahman, and others of the leaders of guidance and supporters of tawhid (the oneness of Allah), for the benefit therein and the removal of many doubts, and the refutation of their people (may Allah have mercy on them all with a wide mercy, and settle them in the spacious Paradise, and make us among their followers with excellence).
Among that are the issues of (Al-Buhuth al-Islamiyyah Magazine) published by the General Presidency for Islamic Affairs, Research, Da'wah, and Guidance; for the great articles and many benefits therein regarding creed and rulings.
Among that are the first volumes of the fatwas and articles issued by me regarding creed, which are printed — by the praise of Allah — and available to students of knowledge. May Allah make them beneficial. And other than that, which is — by the praise of Allah — elaborated in the books of the people of the Sunnah and the community, and Allah is the One who grants success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.