This Article examines the importance of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah and provides some examples of this category of Tawheed.
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Tawheed is the reason why Allah ﷻ created mankind and jinn. Muslims know this because Allah says in the Qur’aan:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ( سورة الذاريات : ٥٦ )
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Sooret adt-Ditariyaat:56)
The concept of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah is very important as it represents the purpose for which mankind was created. Allah ﷻ sent many Messengers and Prophets to teach and promote the concept of Tawheed:
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ( سورة النحل : ٣٦ )
“And We certainly sent into every nation a Messenger, (saying), Worship Allah and avoid taaghoot.” (Soorat an-Naht:36)
There are many ahaadeeth that mention how the Prophet described the excellence of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah and the rewards for those who truly believe in it and practice it. One such hadeeth has been narrated by Mu’aadh ibn Jabal and can be found in Bukhaari wherein he narrates:
عَنْ مُعَاذ قَالَ: كُنتُ رَدِيفُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: ” يَا مُعَادُ ” قُلْتُ لَبَيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ مثله ثَلَاثَا هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا حَقَّ اللَّه عَلَى الْعِبَادِ؟ قُلْتُ: لَا ، قَالَ: حَقَّ اللَّه عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أن يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلا يُشركوا به شيئا” ثُمَّ سَارَ سَاعَةً فَقَالَ يَا مُعَادُ قُلْتُ: لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ، قَالَ: ” هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا حَقَّ الْعِبَادِ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ أَنْ لَا يعذبهم “(البخاري)
I was riding behind the Prophet when he said to me: “O Mu’aadh!” I replied, “Labbayk wa Sa’dayk.” He repeated this call three times and then said, “Do you know what Allah’s Right upon His slaves is?” I replied, “No.” He said, “Allah’s Right upon His slaves is that they should worship Him (Alone) and should not join partners in worship with Him.” Then we traveled for about an hour when he said, “O Mu’aadh!” I replied, “Labbayk wa Sa’dayk.” He said, “Do you know what the right of the slave is upon Allah, if they do that (worship Him Alone) He will not punish them.”
It is compulsory for every Muslim to practice Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah. This means that every act of worship should be directed towards Allah . The following are some examples of worship that can only be directed to Allah:
- Salah
- Du’aa
- Sacrificing animals
- Tawaaf
- Making oaths
Worship involves more than the few acts mentioned above. Worship also includes acts of devotion which are performed by the heart such as reliance, trust, fear and love.
If a Muslim directs any of these acts of worship to other than Allah ab, then this is considered shirk. Therefore, every Muslim must be able to recognize both Tawheed and shirk so that he can differentiate between the two. This can be achieved by studying the Qur’aan and the Sunnah of the Prophet upon the understanding of the Companions
Learning from the lesson
- Allah created mankind and jinn so that they would worship Him only.
- Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah includes loving and fearing Allah more than anything else.
- If any act of worship is directed to other than Allah, then this is shirk.
