Series of Getting to know Islam: Tawheed Uluhiyya

Etymologic Definition of Tawheed uluhiyya

‘uluhiyya‘ itself is taken from the root word of ‘aliha-ya lahu-ilahan/uluhan.’ Etymologically, the word ‘aliha’ means : aiming to, dedicating oneself to, loving something wholeheartedly, worshipping it, and being loyal to it….

The Worshipped One is termed ‘ma’luh’, which contains the meaning that it is loved wholeheartedly, to Him loyalty is given, to Him we devote ourselves, and so on.

Creation who devote himself is termed ‘aalih’, or someone who performs uluh, If we perform uluuh, it means that we should love, devote ourselves to, being loyal to the One Whom we perform uluuh to.

This action of worshipping of creation is termed ‘uluuh’. After that, the word ‘uluuh’ is given a suffix that is ‘yaa An-Nisbah: -iyah’ . (i.e letters ‘ya’ that indicates reference to the attribute of the root word)

Based on these explanations, the meaning of word ‘uluhiah’ is similar to ‘worship’.

Terminologic Definition of Uluhiyya

Tawheed uluhiyya is making Allah as the Only One to be aimed for in all kinds of worships that He has ordained for us, such as prayer, fasting, zakat, pilgrimage, invocation, vowing, slaughtering, wishing, anxious, fear, etc. Tawheed uluhiyya is an obligation of every slave to Allah the Glorified and Exalted.

Tawheed uluhiyya is the Core of enjoining of the messengers.

Allah had delegated His messengers to carry on a prime mission, that is to enjoin people to worship Allah alone. That means, their ultimate mission is enjoining the tawheed uluhiyya. Among the indications are:

Allah the Glorified and Exalted decreed: “We raised a Messenger in every community (to tell them): “Serve Allah and shun the Evil One. “Thereafter Allah guided some of them while others were overtaken by error. Go about the earth, then, and observe what was the end of those who rejected the Messengers, calling them liars.” (Q.S. An Nahl/The bee: 36)

“Never did We send any Messenger before you to whom We did not reveal: “There is no god but Me. So serve Me alone.” (Q.s. Al Anbiya’/The Prophets: 25)

Allah told about the enjoining process of several messengers. They started their calling by ordering people to embrace the tawheed uluhiyya, as said by Prophet Noah, Hud, Salih, Shu’aib, etc. Here are several verses about them:

“O my people! Serve Allah, you have no other god than Him.” (Q.s. Al A’raf/ The Height: 59, 65, 73, 85)

“We sent Abraham and he said to his people: “Serve Allah and fear Him. This is better for you if you only knew.” (Q.s. Al Ankabut / The Spider: 16)

“Tell them, (O Prophet): “I am bidden to serve Allah, consecrating my devotion to Him,” (Q.s. Az Zumar: 11)

Allah’s messenger -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said himself: “I have been ordered (by Allâh) to fight against the people till they testify that Lâ ilâha illallâh, wa anna Muhammad-ar-Rasul-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh تعالى and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allâh),” ( Narrated by Al Bukhari no. 25 and Muslim no. 32)

Tawheed uluhiyya is the First Obligation of every mankind

The first obligation of every mukallaf (those who are obliged to carry out the burden of sharia) is to testify ‘Laa Ilaaha Illalllaah‘ (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah), and perform it’s consequences. The core of this testimony is to believe firmly that Allah is the only One who deserves to be worshipped, and other worshipped things than Him are thaghut (false deities), that should be denied. It means that the first obligation of a mankind is to perform the consequence of tawheed uluhiyya in their hearts, tongues, and bodily deeds.

Allah the Glorified and Exalted decreed, which can be translated as, “Know, therefore, (O Prophet), that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your shortcomings and also for (the shortcomings of) believing men and believing women. Allah knows the places where you move about and where you dwell……” (Q.s. Muhammad: 19)

Differences between Tawheed uluhiyya and rububiyya

Below are the differences between tawheed uluhiyya and tawheed rububiyya:

No.	Tawheed uluhiyya	No.	Tawheed Rububiyya
1.	The aim of creation of jinn and mankind	1.	The natural tendency of every mankind
2.	The core of the calling of the messengers to their people	2.	Delivering to tawheed uluhiyya
3.	The point of dispute between the messengers and their people	3.	Acknowledged by all human, including the enemies of the messengers
4.	Contains order to worship Allah alone	4.	Delivering people to remind them to worship Allah
5.	Contains tawheed rububiyya as it’s consequence. One who has performed tawheed uluhiyya has automatically performed tawheed rububiyya	5.	One who performs it should perform the tawheed uluhiyya as well as it’s consequence
6.	The differentiator between muslim and infidel	6.	The differentiator between atheist and non atheist
7.	Put those who perform it inside Islamic religion (confessed as Muslim)	7.	Not yet put the performer into Islam
8.	The first obligation of mankind	8.	Recognized by all mankind

 

Article of whatisquran.com