Is the worship of other than Allah considered polytheism, even if it is not accompanied by a belief in divine attributes in the worshipped entity, but rather was mere worship? And why do some cite the polytheists' worship of idols as evidence for this, despite the fact that they did not believe these idols created or provided sustenance, while others hold that they worshipped them out of a belief that they could benefit or harm, which made them polytheists, as indicated by verse 18 of Surat Yunus, which states that they worship what neither harms nor benefits them? And does the principle that polytheism in Lordship (Rububiyyah) is an entry point to polytheism in Divinity (Uluhiyyah) mean that polytheism in Divinity does not occur on its own, but must necessarily be preceded by polytheism in Lordship?

The Oneness of God in His Divinity (Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah) means devoting worship to Allah alone. This is something the Muslim nation has unanimously agreed upon, and it is supported by the legal texts. The revealed texts have absolutely prohibited Shirk (associating partners with Allah) in worship, whether the worshiper believes in the Lordship (Rububiyyah) of other than Allah or not, because worshiping other than Allah is disbelief (Kufr), even if one believes that such worship brings them closer to Allah Almighty.

Restricting Shirk in Divinity to being associated with the belief in the Lordship of the worshipped entity besides Allah is an assertion for which there is no evidence; rather, it is refuted by the legal proofs. For example, Allah condemned the Jews and Christians for Shirk because they followed their scholars and ascetics in deeming lawful what Allah made unlawful and deeming unlawful what Allah made lawful, even though they did not believe that these individuals could benefit or harm them.

The interconnectedness between Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah and Rububiyyah does not mean that every person who commits Shirk in worship believes in the Lordship of what they worship. Instead, it means that anyone who worships other than Allah Almighty is deficient in upholding Allah's Oneness in His Lordship. Shirk in worship is considered a denigration of Allah's magnificence and absolute perfection.