Tauhid Al-Uloohiya
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The meaning of Tauhid Al-Uloohiya is to make Allah Most High the only object of all forms of worship whether spoken, acted or intended and complete rejection of all other objects of [any act of] worship other than Allah. Thus, in order to truly understand tauhid, one must gain an understanding of exactly what worship (ibada) consists of.
Worship is the deification of Allah alone, the humbling of oneself before Allah and the submission to Allah by carrying out what He has ordered and staying away from that which He has prohibited. The scholars have defined ibada as: "An all-inclusive term for all that which Allah loves and with which He is pleased of our actions, both outward and inward.
So, included in the concept of worship is desire (for Allah's rewards), fear (of His punishment), love, hope and other actions "of the heart". Worship also includes prayer, fasting, paying zakat, Hajj and other actions "of the body". Similarly, worship also includes giving sovereignty to the law of Allah (the Shari'a) by taking our differences or problems to it for solution, giving our allegiance to the believers over and above the disbelievers and turning ONLY to Allah with our du'a and in seeking aid in times of difficulties or against an enemy. Worship also includes keeping promises, fulfilling trusts, maintaining family ties and many other branches and categories of obedience to Allah Most High.
In short, ever major and minor principle and teaching of Islam falls under the concept of ibada. And the meaning of tauhid al-uloohiya, as has been said, is to devote all of these exclusively to Allah Most High and to turn to Him alone with all of these acts and actions.
The concept of limiting the understanding of worship to the rituals and symbols of Islam exclusively is an error and a deviation which is widespread among Muslims. Perhaps it is one lasting effect of colonialism and the invasion of secular philosophies which advocate the concept of the "separation of church and state". In actual fact, as should be clear by now, EVERY action, statement, etc. which is pleasing to Allah Most High is converted - by the presence of the appropriate INTENTION (niya) of pleasing Allah - to an act of worship.
For this reason, the Prophet (sas) said that "In having relations with your wives there is a [reward of] sadaqa." As another example, taking responsibility for the public interests of the Muslims and working on their needs such as water supply, roads, electricity, etc. is considered a collective obligation (fardh kifaya). With the correct intention, all of these acts become acts of worship of Allah Most High.
Slavery is of two types, corresponding to the two "wills" of Allah Most High. Allah has a will which is a "must be". This is his Decree and His Determination of all things. Whatever Allah wills in this way is and whatever is can only be because Allah so willed it. NOTHING happens out of the scope of this will of Allah and nothing can change it or turn it back. The second will of Allah is His Order and His Commandments - what He loves from His creation and what He hates for them to do. The Command of Allah is obeyed and carried out in some cases but is disobeyed and violated in other cases. Allah commanded us all to be Muslim and to obey Him, but many choose kufr over iman and disobedience of obedience to Allah Most High. Corresponding to these two "wills" of Allah are two types of slavery to Allah which have each been mentioned in many places in the Qur'an.
Universal and Involuntary Slavery. This is the involuntary submission of every part of Allah's creation to His Decree and His Ordination of all things, actions and events. The righteous, the corrupt, the believer and the disbeliever are all 100% in submission to this Decree of Allah and no one is outside of it. It is the inevitable result of the fact that Allah is the absolute Master of His creation and does with it whatever He pleases. About this, Allah said:
{Wa lahu aslama man fiy as-samaawaati wa al-ardhi taw'an wa karhan}
{And to Him has submitted all who are in the heavens and the earth, willingly and unwillingly.} Aal-'Imraan: 83
{In kullu man fiy as-samaawaati wa al-ardhi illa aatiy ar-rahmani 'abdan. Laqad ahsaahum wa 'addahum 'addan. Wa Kulluhum aateehi yauma al-qiyamati fardan.}
{All who are in the heavens and the earth come to the Merciful slaves. He has surveyed them and counted each and every one of them. And all of them will come to Him on the day of Qiyama alone.} Maryam: 93-95
Special and Voluntary Slavery. Allah chooses for this form of slavery those whom He wishes among His slaves. It is a slaver which enobles and raises man to a higher state. Allah said:
{Bal 'ibaadun mukramoon}
{Rather, slaves, highly honored.} Al-Anbiyaa: 26
And, Allah said about His final Messenger Muhammad (sas):
{Subhana alladhiy asraa bi 'abdihi lailan min al-masjid al-haraam ilaa al-masjid al-aqsaa alladhiy baaraknaa haulahu.}
{Exalted is He who transported His slave by night from the sacred masjid to the farthest masjid around which We have blessed.} Al-Israa: 1
{Wa 'ibaadu ar-rahman alladheena yamshoona 'alaa al-ardhi haunan wa idhaa khaatabahum al-jaahiloona qaaloo salaaman.}
{And the slaves of the Merciful who walk on the earth with humility and when addressed by the ignorant, speak a word of integrity.} Al-Furqaan: 63