In details, there are three categories of Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah): Tawhid­ul­Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship); Tawhid­ul­Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship) and Tawhid­ul­Asma' wal­Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes). Mushriks (ones who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) did not deny Tawhid­ul­Rububiyyah, but this had not led them to embrace Islam because they did not dedicate the acts of worship exclusively to Allah. Also, they did admit Tawhid­ul­Uluhiyyah though they believed that Allah is the Creator, the Provider and their Lord. Having refused to dedicate worship to Allah Alone, the Prophet (peace be upon him) engaged in fighting them to enforce them to make worship exclusive to Allah Alone.

Tawhid­ul­Rububiyyah signifies the confirmation of the actions of Allah, His managing and disposing of the affairs of the universe. In other words, a person testifies that Allah is the Creator, the Provider, the Manager, and Disposer of all affairs. He gives and withholds; degrades and upgrades; honors and humiliates; gives life and causes death and over everything is Competent.

These Ayahs (Qur'anic verses) show that they confirm such facts but this confirmation did not drive them to dedicate acts of worship exclusively to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). Instead, they set up rivals with Him and claimed that they were intercessors who will bring them closer to Allah.

Also, He (may He be Praised) says: And those who take Auliyâ' (protectors, helpers, lords, gods) besides Him (say): "We worship them only that they may bring us near to Allâh." It implies that they did not worship others with Allah because they cause harm or bring about benefit or because they create, provide, or dispose the affairs; they only worshipped others to bring them nearer to Allah and intercede with Him on their behalf. In the Ayah mentioned above in Surah (Qur'anic chapter) Yunus, they stated: These are our intercessors with Allâh.

Now, it becomes clear that the Mushriks did not believe that their deities bring about benefit or cause harm; give life or cause death; provide sustenance or withhold it. Rather, they worshipped them to act as intercessors on their behalf and bring them closer to Allah. Mushriks in the past did not worship Al­Lat, Al­ `Uzza, Manat, Jesus, Mary or righteous people because they bring about benefit or cause harm but they worshipped them because they wish for their intercession and that they bring them near to Allah.

Nevertheless, Allah described them with Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) in His saying: And they worship besides Allâh things that harm them not, nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allâh." Say: "Do you inform Allâh of that which He knows not in the heavens and on the earth?" Glorified and Exalted is He above all that which they associate as partners (with Him)! The Ayah of Surah Al­Zumar reads: Verily, Allâh will judge between them concerning that wherein they differ. Truly, Allâh guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever. He called them disbelievers and liars when they claimed that they worship them only that they may bring them near to Allah. Allah stated that they are liars in the claim that their deities bring them near to Allah, and judged them as disbelievers as they dedicate acts of worship, such as slaughtering animals, making vows, seeking relief and the like to them.