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Assignment no.2 ISL201

Submitted to: Mr. Mujahid Eshai

Submitted by: Name: Syed Zeshan Ali Abuturab Student ID: BC120401725 Subject: Islamic Studies

Virtual University of Pakistan

Concept of Worship Allah (SWT) is our creator and He knows better about our purpose of creation. In His Holy book Quran e Majeed; He (SWT) guides us about our purpose of creation by saying:

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me". So, it is proven that the basic purpose of our creation is to worship Allah (SWT). On the other hand, when we go through the lives of Muslims; not only the common Muslims but also the lives of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and His companions (R.A), they seem to be involved in worldly affairs in addition to Ibadah. They spent most of their time in relation with humans as parents, spouse, neighbors, and friends. They are also involved in different professions for earning their livelihood. You are required to: 1. Explain the true concept of Worship. 2. Narrate the actions and deeds which are included in Worship.

1. Explain the true concept of Worship. 11

Answer: It is clear that the concept of worship in Islam is a comprehensive concept that includes all the positive activities of the individual. This of course is in agreement with the all inclusive nature of Islam as way of life. It regulates the human life on all levels. The individual, the social, the economic, the political and the spiritual. That is why Islam provides guidance to the smallest details of ones life on all these levels. Thus following these details is following Islamic instruction in that specific area. It is a very encouraging element when one realizes that all his activities are considered by Allah as acts of worship. This should lead the individual to seek Allahs pleasure in his actions and always try to do them in the best possible manner whether he is watched by his superiors or he is alone.

The word used by the Holy Qur'an for the worship is "Ibadah" which has a much wider sense than "worship". In English, the word "worship" normally indicates to some specific acts or rituals meant exclusively to show one's reverence to his Creator. But the word "ibadah' is not restricted to such acts or rituals, rather, it embodies any act done in submission to Allah's commands and to seek His pleasures. Therefore, many acts which seem to be mundane in nature are included in the word of `ibadah like earning one's livelihood through halal (permissible) means and in order to fulfill one's obligations towards his dependants. "I am God, there is no other God but Me. You shall worship Me and observe the 'Salat' (Contact Prayer) to commemorate Me" 20:14 Every religions prescribes its own prayer system, Islam also does. Every religion has its own unique system and it is this uniqueness which is precious. Islam prescribes its prayer system without challenging prayer systems of other religions as it recognizes the uniqueness of prayer systems of other religions. It puts it succinctly as under: And everyone has direction to which he turns (himself), so vie with one another in good works. The concept of worship in Islam is misunderstood by many people including some Muslims. Worship is commonly taken to mean performing ritualistic acts such as prayers, 4

fasting, charity, etc. This limited understanding of worship is only one part of the meaning of worship in Islam. That is why the traditional definition of worship in Islam is a comprehensive definition that includes almost everything in any individuals activities. The definition goes something like this: Worship is an all inclusive term for all that God loves of external and internal sayings and actions of a person. In other words, worship is everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. This, of course, includes rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of ones fellow human beings. Islam looks at the individual as a whole. He is required to submit himself completely to Allah, as the Quran instructed the Prophet Muhammad to do: Say: Truly, may prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. Worship may be classified into two types: 1) Specific Beliefs, feeling and visible acts of devotion paid in homage to God which he has commanded. 2) All other acts of goodness generally encouraged in the life of a Muslim. This facet of worship entails that one fulfill certain deeds which God has commanded in His religion, whether they deal with the inner self or the outer body, and whether they be obligatory or voluntary. This facet of worship is not only limited to following His commandments, however, but it is also inclusive of leaving those things which He has forbidden. Worship in this sense, may be defined as anything believed, felt, or done as an act of obedience to God. In this respect, worship may also be called servitude, as it is in essence living ones life in complete servitude to God, doing what he commands, and avoiding what he forbids, as a slave lives within the will of his master. In essence all creations are slaves to God, whether they like it or not, for they are all subject to the laws He has placed within His creation: Not one of the beings in the heavens and the earth but must come to (Allah) Most Gracious as a servant.

2. Narrate the actions and deeds which are included in Worship.12

Answer: As a matter of fact Islam does not think much of mere rituals when they are performed mechanically and have no influence on one's inner life. The Qur?an addresses the believers and their neighbors from among the people of the Book who were arguing with them about the change of the direction of Qibla in the following verse: It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward the East or the West, but righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and gives his beloved money to the relatives and the orphans and the needy and for the ransoming Of the captives and who observes prayer and pays the poor-due; and those who fulfill their promises when they have made one, and the patient in poverty and affliction and the steadfast in time of war; it is those who have proved truthful and it is those who are the God- fearing. (2:177) The deeds in the above verse are the deeds of righteousness and they are only a part of worship. The prophet told us about faith, which is the basis of worship, that it "is made up of sixty and some branches: the highest of which is the belief in the Oneness of Allah, i.e., there is no God but Allah and the lowest in the scale of worship is removing obstacles and dirt from people's way." Worship in Islam has distinctive characteristic features which are as follows: Freedom from Intermediaries First of all, Islam has liberated worship from the bondage of intermediaries between man and his Creator. Islam seeks to create a direct link between man and his Lord. There is no need to the intercession of any intermediaries. Religious scholars in Islam are not intermediaries between man and God nor they are considered to be entitled to accept or reject acts of worship on behalf of God. They are equal to ordinary human beings in the sight of God. Rather, they have been burdened with the additional duty of providing knowledge to those who lack knowledge. They will be deemed guilty if they hold knowledge back from those who seek it. The Islamic Shariah does not impose the domination of religious scholars on the rest of the people. The function and the duty of Allah said to the Prophet: Remind them, for you are but to make them remember, you are not at all dominant over them. 88/21.22 6

The Prophet also said to his own daughter Fatima: O Fatima, daughter of Muhammad: I shall be of no help to you before Allah. This shows that all human beings stand on a footing of complete equality before God. Not Confined to Specific Places: Secondly, Islam has not only liberated mans Ibadah from the bondage of intermediaries; it has also liberatedit from confinement to specific places. Islam regards every place whether it is ones dwelling place, the back of an animal, the board of a vessel on the surface of the sea, or a mosque specifically built for worship as pure enough for the performance of worship. Wherevera man might be, he can turn towards hiss Lord and offer his prayers to Him. The Holy Prophet and expressed this idea beautifully: The (Whole of the) earth has been rendered for me a mosque; pure and clean.