The way to fill our hearts with the worshipping of Allah alone (tauhid al-uloohiya) is through contemplation and understanding of his Oneness and Omnipotence as our Lord and Creator (tauhid ar-ruboobiya). It is the nature of our hearts to turn to the Creator, to the Source of all benefit and harm. From here, we can move to the objective of Islam: the means to come closer to this Lord and to do that which is pleasing to this Lord. Thus, tauhid ar-ruboobiya is the gateway and the means to tauhid al-uloohiya as we have mentioned, this latter being the objective of the messages of the messengers (peace be upon them) and the the only thing which can save us from punishment and admit us to Allah's paradise in the hereafter.
For this reason, even though tauhid al-uloohiya is the objective, this does not mean that understanding tauhid ar-ruboobiya is unimportant. It is essential pursue knowledge of tauhid ar-ruboobiya and strengthen our understanding and faith in the oneness and omnipotence of Allah in his acts of creation, providing sustenance to His creation and controlling all that is in the universe. In this way, we need to fill our hearts with the certainty that none can bring us benefit but Allah and none can keep harm from us but Allah and that whatever good we are enjoying is from Allah. This is the way to then purify our worship of Allah to Allah alone and to cleanse our hearts from the wrong concepts and paganistic practices spread by deviant groups and people of desire.
As mentioned earlier, the Qur'an cites the Lordship of Allah and uses it as proof to the pagans of Makka (who understood and believed in Allah's Lordship) that it was upon them to recognize the Deityship of Allah Most High and to purify their actions from all forms of associates in worship and intercessors and to worship Allah directly and alone. The Prophet (sas) used this approach and instructed his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to use this methodology in calling people to Islam. It is sufficient for us to ponder two quotations from the Qur'an in this regard. First, Allah said:
{O people, worship your Lord who created you and those who came before you that perhaps you may attain piety. The One who made the earth a mat and the sky a building. And He sent water down from the sky and brought forth with it fruits as a provision for you. So, do not make equals to Allah even though you know.} Al-Baqarah: 21-22
Here Allah mentions several visible aspects of His Lordship and omnipotence:
He created us (those present).
He created those who came before us (those absent).
He made the earth a hospitable place for use to live.
He made the sky (the atmosphere) a building (environment) in which we can live.
He created the water cycle to support agriculture and food-bearing plants.
These signs of Allah's omnipotence, which we know and understand, are cited here as signs or proofs that Allah alone is the one of whom we should beware. This is from Allahs's statement "that perhaps you may attain peity" (l'allakum tattaqoon)- the Arabic word taqwa means to beware of or to fear. This we should direct to Allah and to Allah alone, since Allah is the only one capable of causing us harm or bringing us benefit. Furthermore, Allah forbids us from diluting this worship by directing ANY of it to other than Him. The Prophet (sas) quoted from Allah in hadith qudsiy:
"I am the least in need of any partner. So, if anyone associates a partner with me, I will leave him with that partner." Muslim
In another verse, Allah says:
{Say: Whose is the earth and all who are on it if you know. They will say: [They are] Allah's. Say: Will you not then take heed? Say: Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the Mighty Throne? They will say: [That is] Allah's. Say: Will you not then beware? Say: In whose hand is the dominion over all things? Who grants protection and is not protected by anyone, if you know? They will say: Allah. So how, then, are you bewitched?} Al-Mu'minoon: 84-89
Throughout these verses, we see that Allah uses His Lordship and His Omnipotence and His Protection of those who seek His protection as proofs that He alone deserves worship and deityship is His alone with no partners. This latter is the meaning of tauhid al-uloohiya.
Making Allah ONE with our love, our glorification/magnification and making Allah our one and only deity (object of worship).
Making Allah ONE with our obedience, our following and our surrender (Islam).
In the coming sections, we will discuss these areas in detail and the ignorance and deviation which has afflicted much of the ummah in our day.
Tauhid al-uloohiya is making Allah our sole object of worship in our words, deeds and intentions and rejection of all to whom any form of worship is directed other than Allah.
'Ibada (worship) of Allah means to take Allah alone as deity, humbling ourselves to Allah alone and submitting to Allah by performing that which He has ordered us to do and staying away from that which He has forbidden us. Put another way: worship is an all-inclusive word for all that which Allah loves and that which pleases Him in terms of our statements and actions both external and internal. Thus, all aspects of Islam and all details of the law full under the meaning of worship.
Limiting the concept of worship to the visible and ritual aspects of worship is a misunderstanding of Islam which is widespread in our time.
Types of slavery ('uboodiya)
Universal slavery. This is the submission of all of creation to the will (qadr) of Allah Most High. It is absolute in all times and places and is without exception. It includes the free-willed (man and jinn) and non-willed creation.
Special slavery. That with which Allah honors some of the free-willed creation. This is the highest state which man can achieve.
Limited slavery. That which occurs between human beings. It is divided into legal and illegal and is mostly irrelevant to this discussion.
Tauhid Al-Uloohiya is the greatest and most important area of this knowledge.
It is the call of all of Allah's messengers throughout history. It is the first thing to which they called the people and the first thing to which we are to call the people. It is the only key to success in this life and the hereafter.
It is unique to Islam (now that the other teachings have become corrupted) and is the issue which distinguishes Islam from all other teachings, beliefs and philosophies.
All of the Qur'an is dedicated to tauhid, its requirements, effects and rewards and its opposite (shirk) its signs, its people and its effects and punishment.
The natural way to tauhid al-uloohiya is knowing and pondering tauhid ar-ruboobiya.
Tauhid al-uloohiya has two pillars:
Making Allah one with our worship.
Making Allah one with our obedience.
Tauihid al-uloohiya is (pick the correct statement):
Belief that Allah exists and that He alone possesses creation, sustenance and control.
Directing worship to Allah in gratitude for His bounties.
Making Allah our sole object of worship in word, deed and intention and rejecting all who are worshipped other than Allah.
It is the criterion for entering paradise in the hereafter. In this life, either type of tauhid is sufficient to distinguish belief from disbelief.
Define worship and describe the mistaken understanding of worship which is widespread in our time.
Mention the different types of slavery and cite evidence for each one from the Qur'an and/or the Sunnah.
Mention the importance of tauhid al-uloohiya with evidence from the Qur'an and/or the Sunnah.
How can we strengthen tauhid al-uloohiya in our hearts? Give examples from the Qur'an.
What are the pillars of tauhid al-uloohiya which are necessary for is completeness?