Examining Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah and Ar-Ruboobiyyah and exploring the relationship between the two.
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Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah are two of three important foundations upon which the Muslim belief in Allah is based. The Arabic words Ruboobiyyah and Uloohiyyah are derived from the words rabb (Lord) and ilaah (object of worship) which refer to Allah’s Lordship and right to be worshipped.
Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah or the monotheism of Allah’s Lordship involves the belief that Allah Alone is the sole Creator and Sustainer of everything in existence. This is a belief that the monotheistic Muslims shared with the idolatrous Arabs. Allah as mentions in His Book:
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ( سورة الزخرف : ٩ )
“And if you should ask them, “Who has created the heavens and the earth?” they would surely say, “They were created by the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.” (Soorat az-zukruf : 9 )
This is because the idolatrous Arabs affirmed this aspect of monotheism as Allah mentions in His Book:
قُلْ مَن يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَمَّن يَمْلِكُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَمَن يُخْرِجُ ٱلْحَىَّ مِنَ ٱلْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ ٱلْمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلْحَىِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ( سورة يونس : ٣١ )
“Say, “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?” They will say, “Allah,” so say, “Then will you not fear Him?”(Soorat Yoonus : 31)
Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah or the monotheism of Allah’s right to be worshipped requires firm belief that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah. This category of monotheism is a direct result of belief in Allah’s Lordship. The proof for this category of Tawheed can be found in the following verses:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ( سورة الذاريات : ٥٦ )
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”(Soorat adh-Dhariyat: 56)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ( سورة البقرة : ٢١ )
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous. (Soorat al-Baqarah : 21)
As for the relationship between Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah, the proper establishment of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah requires proper belief in Tawheed Ar- Ruboobiyyah.
This is why many disbelievers can affirm and accept one category of monotheism but their acceptance of this category of monotheism alone will not make them true monotheists because of their rejection or misunderstanding of the other aspects of monotheism.
True monotheists establish Tawheed with all of its components beginning with Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah which necessitates Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Asmaa’ Wa As-Sifaat.
Learning from the lesson
- Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah are two of three important foundations upon which the Muslim belief in Allah ﷻ is based.
- The idolatrous Arabs affirmed Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah.
- The proper establishment of Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah requires proper belief in Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah.
Discussion
- What does Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah mean?
- What is the difference between Tawheed Ar-Ruboobiyyah and Tawheed Al-Uloohiyyah?
