1.8 Does believing in Oneness of Divine Lordship save one from polytheism?

Dear brother student, in so long as we have affirmed in the previous paragraph that Oneness of Divine Lordship alone is not sufficient to enter Islam, then we must also affirm here that this type of Tawheed does not save a person from committing shirk. This is because Tawheed which considers a person as Muslim and delivers them from committing shirk is Oneness of Divine Godship which constitutes the foundation of Islam and the spirit of its theology and its pith. For this reason when the non-believers from Quraysh rejected this form of Tawheed, their recognition of the Oneness of Divine Lordship was not accepted because Allah the All Exalted does not accept except this Tawheed which is Islam itself. Allah says:

[آل عمران:٨٥]

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وَمَنْ يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الأِسْلامِ دِيناً فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ

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If anyone desires a religion other than Islam (submission to Allah., never will it be accepted of him [3:85]

[آل عمران:١٩]

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إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الأِسْلامُ

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The Religion before Allah is Islam [3:19]

1.8 Does believing in Oneness of Divine Lordship save one from polytheism?

The polytheists recognised Oneness of Divine Lordship which is that Allah is the Lord, Creator, King and Governor in who’s Hands exists all kingdoms and who alone gives sanctuary. This necessarily requires them to recognize and affirm His Oneness of Divine Godship as they recognised His Divine Lordship. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ * الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشاً

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((	وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقاً لَكُمْ فَلا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَاداً وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

[البقرة:٢١-٢٢]

O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness; Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth). [2:21-22]

1.8 Does believing in Oneness of Divine Lordship save one from polytheism?

Sheikh al-Maqrizi-may Allah show mercy upon him-says:
“Undoubtedly the polytheists have not denied the Oneness of Divine Lordship but rather have affirmed that the All Glorious alone created them and the heavens and earth and undertakes all the interests of the world. They deny His Oneness of Divine Godship and His love according to what Allah informs us:

[البقرة:١٦٥]

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وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبّاً لِلَّهِ

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Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah: They love them as they should love Allah. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to Allah belongs all power, and Allah will strongly enforce the penalty. [2:165]

1.8 Does believing in Oneness of Divine Lordship save one from polytheism?

When they make as equals others other than Allah in Tawheed, they become polytheists. This Oneness of Divine Lordship is what creations are agreed upon be they believers are non-believers and Oneness of Divine Godship is the crossroads dividing between believers and polytheists. Belief in the Oneness of Divine Godship is what is required from servants and which is denied by the polytheists against whom Allah remonstrates with the argument of their affirmation of His Divine Lordship with the words:

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قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلامٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى آللَّهُ خَيْرٌ أَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

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[النَّمل:٥٩-٦٠]

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أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ

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إلى قوله:

Say: Praises be to Allah, and Peace on his servants whom He has chosen (for his Message). (Who) is better? Allah or the false gods they associate (with Him)? Or, Who has created the heavens and the earth, and Who sends you down rain from the sky? Yea, with it We cause to grow well-planted orchards full of beauty of delight: it is not in your power to cause the growth of the trees in them. (Can there be another) god besides Allah. Nay, they are a people who swerve from justice. [2:165]
Here ends his remarks.

1.8 Does believing in Oneness of Divine Lordship save one from polytheism?

Thus alone Oneness of Divine Lordship does not save a person from committing shirk just as it does not extract a person from the sphere of polytheism. What is required is the accompaniment of belief in the Oneness of Divine Godship for it is this Tawheed that saves a person from shirk and enters him into Islam. It causes his blood to be unlawful and protects his person, wealth and honour.