Tawheed represent the essence of the Islamic faith, which is the life plan, ways and guides of living as a Muslim. It is necessary to have a correct relationship with Allah SWT and maintain Allah's unity in whatever we do.
Science of Tawheed never existed during the Prophet SAW nor his Companions. It was when the Islamic empire arose and widespread, confusions and threats among the followers occurred where mixtures of the true Islamic beliefs and the remnants of non-Islamic culture happened. Therefore, the science of Tawheed emerged in order to ensure that correct Aqidah and Tawheed were adhered to.
Scholars have various opinions in representing the Tawheed in reference to Allah SWT. In realising and maintaining Allah's unity in all of man's actions related to Him, Tawheed is divided into three categories whereby all are required to be fulfilled. The categories are:
- Tawheed al-Rubbubiyyah (Oneness of Divine Lordship)
- Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Divine Worship)
- Tawheed al-Asma’ wal-Sifaat (Oneness of the Divine Names and Attributes)
Tauheed al-Rubbubiyyah
The word Rubbubiyyah is derived from the word Robb which in Shari’ah means Allah as the Creator, the Owner & the Controller, the Sustainer & the Maintainer of the Universe and everything in it. Nothing happens except what He allows to happen.
In surah Al-Fatihah itself, clearly stated only Allah SWT, Robb al-’Alamiin deserves all praise:
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَAll praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [QS 1:2]
In surah Al-Jathiyah verse no 36, stated that All is the Lord of the Universe:
فَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ رَبِّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَرَبِّ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَSo all praise is for Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of the worlds [QS 45:36]
In surah Al-’Araf verse no 54 proof that Allah SWT is the sole Creator, Owner & Controller of the universe
:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُغۡشِي ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثٗا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتِۭ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَYour Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and earth in six days, and then rose over [istawa] the Throne. He makes the night and day overlap in rapid succession. He made the sun, the moon, and the stars – all subservient to His command. Behold, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds. [QS 7:54]
In surah Hud verse no 6, proof that Allah SWT is the sole Sustainer and Maintainer of His creations
۞ وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزۡقُهَا وَيَعۡلَمُ مُسۡتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعَهَاۚ كُلّٞ فِي كِتَٰبٖ مُّبِينٖ
There is no moving creature on earth but upon Allah is its provision. He knows its place of dwelling and its place of rest; everything is [written] in a clear Record. [QS 11:6]
Undoubtedly, there are many verses with regards to Allah SWT as Robb in the Quran and hadith. All these lead to the Tawheed ar-Rubbubiyyah, maintaining the unity of Allah’s Lordship.
Tawheed al-Rubbubiyyah within the Non-Muslim
Nevertheless, this branch of Tawheed alone does not make one as a complete and true Muslim. We learned that the pre-Islamic Makkans who were Mushrikeen (polytheists) believed in Allah's Rubbubiyyah.
As stated in the Quran in surah Az-Zukhruf:
وَلَئِن سَأَلۡتَهُم مَّنۡ خَلَقَهُمۡ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُۖ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤۡفَكُونَIf you ask them who created them, they will surely say, “Allah.” How are they then deluded? [QS 43:87]
The Mushrikeen also acknowledge that Allah SWT is the Creator, the Owner, the Controller and the Sustainer in surah Yunus verse no 31:
قُلۡ مَن يَرۡزُقُكُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ أَمَّن يَمۡلِكُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَمَن يُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡحَيَّ مِنَ ٱلۡمَيِّتِ وَيُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَيِّتَ مِنَ ٱلۡحَيِّ وَمَن يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ ٱللَّهُۚ فَقُلۡ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَSay, “Who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Or who owns [your] hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who controls all things?” They will say, “Allah.” Say, “Do you not then fear Him? [QS 10:31]
However, this does not make a person a Muslim. It is man’s natural disposition known as Fitrah to believe in Allah SWT, and acknowledge the He is Most Powerful and everything is under His control.
In the Quran, surah al-’Araf verse no 172, Allah SWT said:
Yet, the upbringing and their environment turn them away from the truth. As reported in the hadith:وَإِذۡ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِيٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمۡ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمۡ وَأَشۡهَدَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ أَلَسۡتُ بِرَبِّكُمۡۖ قَالُواْ بَلَىٰ شَهِدۡنَآۚ أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنۡ هَٰذَا غَٰفِلِينَAnd [remember] when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their offspring and made them testify about themselves [asking], “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes indeed; We testify.” [We did so] lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, “We were unaware of this,” [QS 7:172]
Therefore, to differentiate between the Muslim and the non-Muslim, Tawheed al-Rubbubiyyah should be the gateway for man to worship Allah alone and only Allah, as in surah Al-Ikhlas verse no 4:
وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢand there is none comparable to Him. [ QS 112:4]
Tawheed al-Rubbubiyyah as a gateway to Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah
Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah which is defined as Oneness of Divine Worship which requires every Muslim to submit to Allah and worship Allah alone.
The purpose of man as stated in the Qur’an:
وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ
I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. [QS 51:56]
In the surah al-Fatihah, it is clear that man should worship Allah for He is The Only One would could fulfil every man’s wishes:
إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُYou alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. [QS 1:5]
It is an order directly from Allah SWT that man should worship Allah and only Allah alone.
In Surah Ta-ha verse 14, Allah SWT said:
إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ‘Indeed, I am Allah; none has the right to be worshiped except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer to remember me. [QS 20:14]
Allah SWT even sent His Messengers to man to invite and teach man to worship Allah alone and none others.
Therefore it is the required for every Muslim to profess one’s belief in Tauheed Rububiyah by worshipping Allah SWT the way that was taught by the Prophet SAW thru Al-Qur'an and Sunnah.
وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ“We never sent before you [O Prophet] any messenger without revealing to him that none has the right to be worshiped except Me, so worship Me. [QS 21:25]
The Quran states that:
(162) قُلۡ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحۡيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَلَا شَرِيكَ لَهُۥۖ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرۡتُ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ (163)Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are all for Allah, Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded, and I am the first to submit to Allah.” [QS 6:162-163]
Thus, Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah put a demarcation between the Muslim and the Mushrikeen as a proof of one’s faith.
Conclusion
The fundamental of the Tawheed in every Muslim leads to a testimony known as Shahadah affirming that there is no God but Allah and only Allah has the right to be worshipped.
'Ibn Abbas RA narrated that the Prophet SAW sent Muadh to Yemen, and said:
إِنَّكَ تَأْتِي قَوْمًا أَهْلَ كِتَابٍ فَادْعُهُمْ إِلَى شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ افْتَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَدَقَةً فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ تُؤْخَذُ مِنْ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ فَتُرَدُّ فِي فُقَرَائِهِمْ فَإِنْ هُمْ أَطَاعُوا لِذَلِكَ فَإِيَّاكَ وَكَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَاتَّقِ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلُومِ فَإِنَّهَا لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ حِجَابٌ“You are going to some people among the People of the Book. Call them to bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and that I am the messenger of Allah. If they obey that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers every day and night. If they obey that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them charity (Zakat) from their wealth, to be taken from the rich and given to their poor. If they obey that, then beware of (taking) the best of their wealth. And beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between and Allah.” [Ref: Sunan Ibn Majah; Grade: Sahih]
The testimony is a representation of both Tawheed al-Rubbubiyyah and Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah whereby it has two conditions that needed to be fulfilled which are:
لا إله إلا اللهThere is no god, except Allah
لا إله (There is no god) which are the negation of all objects of worship which means nothing is worth the worship. إلا الله (except Allah) which are the affirmation that sincere worship is only to Allah SWT.
Missing one of these components would be the biggest loss in every man.
I’ve come to a post in the social media of which a non-Muslim was giving donation to the mosque as an act of gratefulness to god for what have bestowed upon her. It is sad to know, despite her good action, it would still do any good to her in the hereafter if she still holding on to her current belief by worshipping creation instead of Allah alone. May Allah open her heart and guide her to Islam, amiin.
وَلَا تَدۡعُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَۖ فَإِن فَعَلۡتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذٗا مِّنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ (106) وَإِن يَمۡسَسۡكَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرّٖ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُۥٓ إِلَّا هُوَۖ وَإِن يُرِدۡكَ بِخَيۡرٖ فَلَا رَآدَّ لِفَضۡلِهِۦۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (107)Do not supplicate besides Allah that which can neither benefit nor harm you, for if you do so, you will be one of the wrongdoers. If Allah afflicts you with harm, none can remove it except Him; if He wants good for you, none can withhold His bounty. He grants it to whom He wills of His slaves, and He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. [QS 10:106-107]
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet SAW said, “My intercession is for every person who sincerely recites the Kalima (testimony), by reciting with the tongue and confirming with the heart.”
Disclaimer: This was assignment submitted by me for the Aqeedah module for Semester 1 of my BA of Islamic Studies online learnings with Knowledge International University. Alhamdulillah, it is such a blessing to be able to learn and gain knowledge and thank you to Sheikh Abu Salman Deya ud Deen Eberle for the patience in teaching is, Jazakallahu khayr.