The correct belief in tawheed (Islamic monotheism) does not mean that one simply recognises that there is a God or Creator. It goes beyond that to having the proper beliefs about that Creator and submitting to that Creator and God in all realms of life, either as an individual in his worship and behaviour or as a society.
Imaam Ibn Abil-'Izz al-Hanafi رحمه الله said: "Most of the soorahs in the Qur'aan are concerned with the two types of tawheed [1]; in fact, everysoorah in the Qur'aan [is concerned with tawheed]. The Qur'aan either reports about Allaah's Names and Attributes سبحانه و تعالى. This is the tawheedthat one must have knowledge about and that is reported. Or the Qur'aan calls to His worship, associating no partner with Him [in that worship] and abandoning any other idol other than Him. This is the tawheed of intention and will. Or the Qur'aan orders, prohibits or commands [His] obedience. These are essential aspects of tawheed and part of its completeness. Or the Qur'aan reports about how [Allaah سبحانه و تعالى] honours the people [who adhere to] tawheed and what He does for them in this world and what He graciously bestows upon them in the Hereafter. That is the reward for [adhering to] tawheed. Or [the Qur'aan] reports about the polytheists and how He treats them in this world and what kind of punishment that will receive in the end. That is the punishment for those who abandon the aspects of tawheed." [2]
Sayyid Qutb رحمه الله echoed that statement when he wrote: "Defining the real uloohiyyah [3] and clarifying its particular aspects of Lordship, Sustainer and Ruler, and defining uboodiyyah [4] and its limits that must not be trespassed, and going from all of that to mankind worshipping their true Lord, and recognising that Lordship, Sustaining and Ruling belong only to Him.. [5] This is the main topic of the entire Qur'aan.. And what is beyond that is simply an explanation of what this great truth [tawheed] implies and requires in the life of humans, in every respect." [6]
Summary
When a reader has a clear concept of what he is trying to get from what he is reading, the more he will be able to concentrate on those important points in his reading. Similarly, when a person reads the Qur'aan, he should know what it is that he should get from the Qur'aan. He should realise that the Qur'aan is showing him what to believe in. It is showing him how to act such that he will be pleasing Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and worshipping Him in the proper manner. He should turn to the Qur'aan to try to understand what are Allaah's سبحانه و تعالى rights upon him and how can he fulfill those rights. He should turn to the Qur'aan to see how he is supposed to behave toward his Lord. He also must turn to the Qur'aan to see how he is supposed to deal with others in a way that would be most pleasing to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. He also turns to the Qur'aan to understand how to protect himself from all of those forces that are trying to distance him from Allaah سبحانه و تعالى. All of these teachings should be foremost in the reader's mind. When they are, Allaah willing, the guidance of Allaah's سبحانه و تعالى speech will become clear to him and he will truly benefit from the Qur'aan in both this life and the Hereafter. [7]
Notes:
[1] What is meant by the "two types of tawheed" is tawheed with respect to (1) what one believes in and acknowledges as true and (2) one's devotions and worship in this life.
[2] Sharh Aqeedah at-Tahawiyyah
[3] Uloohiyyah is an aspect of tawheed which implies that no one has the right to be worshiped except Allaah.
[4] The correct servitude to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى.
[5] Two periods instead of three have been placed in this quote because actually nothing has been omitted from the text but this was Sayyid Qutb's رحمه الله style to put such periods leading to his next point.
[6] Fi Dhilaal al-Qur'aan, vol. 3, p. 1753.
[7] How to Approach and Understand the Quran.