Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah and the Purification of Worship: A Tafsir Study of Surah An-Nahl (16:36) and Surah Al-Ikhlas

Abstract

Tawhid uluhiyah is the core of Islamic teachings that emphasizes the oneness of Allah in all forms of worship. However, in contemporary religious practices, there are still phenomena of worship mixed with elements of shirk, both explicitly and covertly, thus indicating the urgency of studying the purification of worship based on the Qur'an (Sari et al., 2024; Wahyuni & Febriyarni, 2022). This study aims to analyze the concept of tauhid uluhiyah through an exegetical study of QS. An-Nahl: 36 and QS. Al-Ikhlas, and to reveal its implications for the purification of worship in Muslim life. This study uses a qualitative method with a thematic interpretation approach (maudhu'i) , through data collection techniques in the form of literature studies of the Qur'an, classical and contemporary commentaries, and relevant academic literature. The analytical techniques used are content analysis and comparative interpretations to obtain a comprehensive understanding. The results of the study show that QS. An-Nahl: 36 emphasizes the universal mission of the apostles in calling humans to worship only Allah and shun taghut, while QS. Al-Ikhlas emphasizes the absolute oneness of Allah as the theological foundation of tauhid. The integration of these two verses shows that tauhid uluhiyah contains two main dimensions, namely the dimension of belief (aqidah) and the dimension of practice (ibadah), which together form the basis for purifying worship from all forms of shirk. This finding contributes to the development of thematic interpretation studies with an integrative approach between the theological and practical aspects of tauhid. The conclusion of this study emphasizes that tauhid uluhiyah is the main foundation in the purification of worship, so that its understanding and practice are key to maintaining the purity of the faith of Muslims. This research also opens opportunities for further studies that integrate the interpretation approach with empirical studies to examine the implementation of tauhid in a modern social context.