What Is Worship?
This article will delve into the nature of worship in Islam, examining its core principles and exploring the potential for its corruption. We will discuss the concept of Tawheed, encompassing the Oneness of Allah in His Lordship (Rububiyyah), His exclusive right to worship (Uluhiyyah), and the uniqueness of His Names and Attributes (Asma' wa Sifat). By exploring these key aspects of Tawheed, we will gain a deeper understanding of what constitutes pure worship and how to safeguard it from impurities.
Worship: What is it, how is it done?
The Purpose of Creation: A Divine Mandate
The Quran unequivocally states in Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:56): “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.” This fundamental truth serves as the cornerstone of Islamic belief, establishing that the sole purpose of human existence transcends the pursuit of worldly pleasures, material possessions, or fleeting achievements. It is a divine mandate, an invitation from the Creator to recognize His absolute sovereignty, acknowledge His limitless grace, and strive to fulfill the purpose for which they were created.
Human beings, endowed with intellect, consciousness, and free will, are uniquely positioned amongst creation. We possess the capacity for reason, reflection, and the ability to discern truth from falsehood. This unique capacity is a divine gift, bestowed upon us to recognize our Creator, understand our purpose, and strive to fulfill it.
Surah Al-Zariyat (51:56) further emphasizes this divine purpose: “And I have not created the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” This verse leaves no room for ambiguity or alternative interpretations. It clearly states that the primary objective of human existence is to worship Allah (SWT) alone, to submit to His will, and to find fulfillment in that submission.
Surah Al-Ma’arij (70:40) reiterates this divine purpose: “And I created not the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” This consistent emphasis throughout the Quran underscores the paramount importance of worship in the eyes of the Creator. It signifies that true success in this life and the hereafter lies not in accumulating wealth or power, but in fulfilling this divine purpose.
The Five A Day
Obligatory Worship: Salah
Salah, also known as Salat, is the second pillar of Islam and a cornerstone of Muslim faith. It is a compulsory act of worship for all physically and mentally able Muslims, performed five times daily at prescribed times.
Origin of Salah:
Salah was directly revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the miraculous Night Journey (Isra and Mi’raj), where he ascended to the heavens. This divine encounter provided him with the specific instructions for performing these prayers, demonstrating how Muslims are to worship their Creator.
Key Components of Salah:
- Wudu (Ablution): Before performing Salah, Muslims must perform Wudu, a ritual cleansing of specific body parts, symbolizing purification and readiness for communion with Allah.
- Facing the Qibla: Muslims must face the Kaaba in Mecca while praying, signifying the unity of the Muslim Ummah and their shared focus towards the House of Allah.
- Raka’at: Salah consists of a series of units called Raka’at. Each Raka’at involves a sequence of physical postures, including standing (Qiyam), bowing (Ruku’), prostration (Sujud), and sitting, accompanied by specific recitations and movements.
- Recitations: During Salah, Muslims recite verses from the Quran, including the opening chapter (Surah Fatiha) and other selected verses, reflecting on the divine message and seeking guidance.
- Supplications (Dua): Muslims also make supplications (Dua) to Allah during Salah, seeking His forgiveness, mercy, and guidance for themselves and others.
Significance of Salah:
- Direct Connection with Allah: Salah is considered a direct means of communication with Allah. It provides an opportunity for Muslims to connect with their Creator, express their devotion, and seek His guidance and blessings.
- Spiritual Purification: The physical and spiritual acts involved in Salah help to purify the mind and soul, fostering humility, focus, and a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
- Social Unity: The performance of Salah at specific times throughout the day creates a sense of community and shared purpose among Muslims worldwide.
- Discipline and Self-Control: The regular performance of Salah cultivates discipline, self-control, and a sense of responsibility, shaping the Muslim’s character and guiding their actions throughout the day.
Salah is not merely a ritual; it is a profound act of worship that connects Muslims to their Creator, strengthens their faith, and guides them towards a life of righteousness and submission to Allah. It serves as a constant reminder of their purpose in life and their responsibility to fulfill the divine command to worship Allah alone.
Worship: Beyond Salah
Worship in Islam, or Ibadah, encompasses all aspects of life that are directed towards pleasing Allah (SWT). It extends far beyond the five pillars (Salah, Sawm, Zakat, Hajj, Shahada), encompassing every thought, word, and deed.
Surah Al-An’am (6:162): “Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.'” This profound verse illustrates the comprehensive nature of worship, encompassing all aspects of one’s existence – one’s thoughts, actions, and even one’s very life and death – dedicated to the service of Allah.
Hadith: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Indeed, deeds are judged by intentions, and every person will get what he intended.” (Bukhari and Muslim) This Hadith emphasizes the crucial role of intention in worship. Every action, no matter how small, can become an act of worship when performed with the sincere intention of pleasing Allah.
True worship is not merely a set of outward rituals, but a profound inner state of submission, characterized by humility, sincerity, and love for Allah. It involves a conscious and deliberate effort to align one’s will with the divine will, recognizing Allah as the sole source of power, guidance, and mercy. It is a continuous journey of self-improvement and spiritual growth, involving striving to purify one’s intentions, cultivate righteous character traits, and engage in acts of goodness and compassion towards oneself and others.
'Taghut' the forgotten Islamic prohibition
The Concept of Taghut: Diverting from the Path of Truth
Taghut, as defined in the Quran (2:256, 4:76), refers to any entity or system that is worshipped besides Allah or that diverts worship from Allah. It encompasses a wide range of phenomena that can subtly or overtly lead individuals astray from the path of true worship.
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:256): “There is no compulsion in religion. Indeed, the right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.” This verse emphasizes the importance of rejecting Taghut and upholding the right to choose to worship Allah alone. It affirms the freedom of belief while highlighting the dangers of associating partners with Allah.
Surah Al-Nisa (4:76): “And those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to separate Allah from His servants – they will never succeed.” This verse warns against the grave consequences of associating partners with Allah or obstructing the path of His worship. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the Oneness of Allah and upholding His message.
Hadith: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will enter the Fire.” (Bukhari and Muslim) This Hadith underscores the severity of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and warns against its dire consequences.
Recognizing and avoiding Taghut requires constant introspection and self-awareness. It requires cultivating a deep understanding of Islamic principles, strengthening one’s faith in Allah, and seeking guidance from the Quran and the Sunnah. By remaining vigilant against the subtle and overt forms of Taghut, individuals can safeguard their hearts and minds, ensure that their worship remains pure and sincere, and ultimately attain true success in both worlds.
Relationship between Tawheed and Worship
Introduction
Tawheed, at its core, signifies the absolute Oneness of Allah. It is the fundamental belief that there is no god but Allah, that He is the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe. This concept, articulated in the Shahada (“La ilaha illallah” – There is no god but Allah), forms the bedrock of Islamic faith. Crucially, Tawheed is the foundation upon which all acts of worship are built. As Allah is the only true deity, worship directed towards any other being or entity is considered invalid.
The Oneness of Lordship (Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah)
This aspect of Tawheed acknowledges Allah as the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Controller of the universe. He is the source of all existence, the Giver of life and death, the Bestower of all blessings.
Quran 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi): “Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except as He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” This verse eloquently describes the absolute power and sovereignty of Allah, emphasizing His eternal existence and His comprehensive knowledge of all creation.
Hadith: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days, then He established Himself upon the Throne, while the sun had not yet risen, nor had the moon shone, nor had the wind blown, nor had the clouds rained, nor had the earth sprouted forth any vegetation, nor had any creature been created. Then He called the pen and said to it, ‘Write!’ So it wrote all that was to be until the Day of Resurrection.” (Muslim) This Hadith highlights the absolute power and creative will of Allah, emphasizing that all creation exists according to His divine decree.
This understanding of Tawheed ar-Rububiyyah necessitates a profound sense of awe and wonder at the majesty of Allah’s creation. It encourages individuals to contemplate the intricate workings of the universe, recognize the blessings bestowed upon them, and express gratitude to the Creator for His countless bounties. This recognition of Allah as the sole Creator directly informs the nature of worship, as it underscores that all praise, gratitude, and obedience are due to Him alone.
The Oneness of Worship (Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah)
This aspect of Tawheed emphasizes that all forms of worship, including love, fear, hope, and obedience, are due to Allah alone. No other entity, whether human, divine, or created, deserves to be worshipped or invoked for help. This directly links to the core purpose of creation, as established in the Quran (Surah Al-Dhariyat 51:56): “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.”
Worship, therefore, is an expression of this fundamental belief in the Oneness of Allah. It is an act of submission to His will, an acknowledgment of His absolute sovereignty, and a recognition that all blessings and guidance originate from Him. True worship is only complete when it is directed solely towards Allah, free from any association of partners (shirk).
Quran 21:22: “And they worship besides Allah what neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, ‘These are our intercessors with Allah.’ Say, ‘Do you inform Allah of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?’ Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.” This verse warns against the grave sin of shirk (associating partners with Allah), emphasizing that only Allah deserves to be worshipped and invoked for help.
Quran 39:3: “Say, ‘To whom do you invoke besides Allah, if He intends to harm you or to show you mercy?’ But Allah is sufficient for His servants, while they are to Him associating partners.” This verse highlights the futility of seeking help from other than Allah. It emphasizes that Allah is the sole source of all good and all evil, and that turning to any other entity for help is misplaced and futile.
Dhikr, the remembrance of Allah through His beautiful names and attributes, is a significant form of worship that directly reflects the concept of Tawheed al-Uluhiyyah.
- Quran 59:24: “He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner. To Him belong the most beautiful names. So glorify Him. Exalted is He above what they associate with Him.” This verse highlights the importance of acknowledging and glorifying Allah through His beautiful names.
By remembering Allah through His names such as “Al-Rahman” (The Most Merciful), “Al-Rahim” (The Most Compassionate), “Al-Ghaffar” (The Forgiving), and “Al-Karim” (The Most Generous), individuals are affirming their belief in His unique attributes and recognizing His exclusive right to be worshipped. Attributing these names and attributes to anyone or anything else constitutes a form of shirk, as it diverts worship from Allah and assigns divine qualities to created beings. True worship, therefore, is inseparable from the recognition and affirmation of Allah’s Oneness in all its aspects.
The Oneness of Names and Attributes (Tawheed al-Asma' wa al-Sifat)
This aspect of Tawheed affirms the unique and incomparable attributes of Allah, such as His power, knowledge, wisdom, mercy, and justice. It acknowledges that these attributes belong exclusively to Allah and cannot be ascribed to any other being.
- Quran 59:22: “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian over all things.” This verse affirms Allah’s absolute power and authority as the Creator and Sustainer of all existence.
- Quran 2:255 (Ayat al-Kursi): “Allah, there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth…” This verse describes some of Allah’s unique attributes, such as His eternality, self-sufficiency, and comprehensive knowledge.
This understanding of Tawheed al-Asma’ wa al-Sifat necessitates a deep reverence for the divine names and attributes. It encourages individuals to contemplate the majesty of Allah, to reflect upon His creation, and to strive to live in accordance with His divine attributes. This recognition of Allah’s unique attributes further strengthens the connection between worship and Tawheed, as it inspires individuals to direct their worship towards the One who possesses all perfection and deserves all praise. True worship, therefore, is an act of acknowledging and affirming Allah’s unique attributes and recognizing that no one and nothing shares these attributes.
