The Relationship Between Ibâdah and Tawhîd
Abû Bakr as-Siddîq (13H) Radiyallâhu Anh said,
"Tawhîd suffices as worship and paradise suffices as reward."1
Sahl bin Abdillâh at-Tustarî (283H) Rahimahullâh said,
"The foundation of worship is Tawhîd, alongside eating what is permissible and staying away from harming."2
Al-Baghawî (516H) Rahimahullâh said,
"It is said, "Except that they worship Me..." meaning except that they make Tawhîd of Me... As for the believer, he unifies Allâh in hardship and in ease, as for the disbeliever, he unifies Him during hardship and trials but not during blessings and ease. The following statement of Allâh Azza wa Jalla clarifies this, "So when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allâh, having their faith purely in Him." (al-Ankabût, 29/65)."3
Shams'ud Dîn al-Qurtubî (671H) Rahimahullâh said,
"Allâhu Taâlâ's statement, "Worship," is a command to worship Him. Here, worship consists of unifying Him and following the prescriptions of His religion."4
"The meaning here is: I have not created the Jinn and mankind except that they unify Me."5
"Also, it is narrated from al-Kalbî that he said: Except that they should unify Me... As for the believer, he unifies Allâh in hardship and in ease, as for the disbeliever, he unifies Him during hardship and trials but not during blessings and ease. The statement of Allâhu Taâlâ in the following verse clarifies this, "And when they are covered by waves like canopies, they pray to Allâh, having faith exclusively in Him." (Luqmân, 31/32)."6
Badr'ud Dîn al-Aynî (855H) Rahimahullâh said,
"Worship means Tawhîd, meaning: They were only commanded to unify Allâh... Meaning, they were only commanded because of worship, that is Tawhîd."7
Muhammad bin Abd'il Wahhâb (1206H) Rahimahullâh said,
"Allâhu Taâlâ stated,
"I have not created the jinn and human beings except that they worship Me." (adh-Dhâriyât 51/56)
Ibâdah (worship) is Tawhîd."8
"As Allâhu Taâlâ stated,
"I have not created the jinn and human beings except that they worship Me." (adh-Dhâriyât 51/56)
The meaning of "...they worship Me..." is, "They should make Tawhîd of (unify) Me..."9
1- ath-Tha'labî, at-Tafsîr, 4/213.
2- at-Tustarî, at-Tafsîr, p. 48.
3- al-Baghawî, at-Tafsîr, 7/381.
4- al-Qurtubî, at-Tafsîr, 1/225.
5- al-Qurtubî, at-Tafsîr, 17/55.
6- al-Qurtubî, at-Tafsîr, 17/56.
7- Badr'ud Dîn, Umdat'ul Qârî, 1/264.
8- The Beneficial, Important, And Precious Pamphlet.
9- The Three Foundations.