
The Wisdom of Sharia Rulings
Wisdoms of Worship (Part 2)
Mawlana Abrar Akhtar al-Qadiri
Chief Editor Women’s Monthly Magazine Dawat-e-Islami (Web Edition)
Allah Almighty made mankind the most noble creation and appointed them as His vicegerents on earth. However, the honour and status of being His vicegerent is only for those who live as true servants of Allah Almighty and never exceed limits. Servitude is the only thing that keeps a person connected to their true Master and makes them obedient to their Creator. One of the purposes of human creation is to worship Allah Almighty. In the noble Quran, Allah Almighty states:
وَ مَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِیَعْبُدُوْنِ (۵۶)
And I did not create jinn and mankind but to worship Me.[1]
It is clear that a servant only remains connected to his Lord through servitude and worship. Therefore, one should devote himself to the worship of Allah Almighty, for this is what he has been commanded to do. A poet beautifully said:
Zindagi Aamad Baraiy Bandagi
Zindagi Be Bandagi Sharmindagi
Life was granted for the sole purpose of serving Allah Almighty. A life without servitude is a life of disgrace.
Wisdoms of worship
Some questions arise like: Why did Allah Almighty command us to worship Him? Is He in need of our worship?
In this regard, remember that the command for people to worship has many divine wisdoms behind it, including the following:
Worship benefits the servant
Allah Almighty is Self-sufficient, and He has absolutely no need for our worship. In fact, the true benefit of worship is for the servant, just as Allah Almighty states:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوْا رَبَّکُمُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَکُمْ وَ الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ (ۙ۲۱)
People! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who preceded you, with this hope that you may attain piety.[2]
In Tafsīr Khazāˈin al-ꜤIrfān لَعَلَّکُمْ تَتَّقُوْنَ is explained in the following manner: “It is evident from this that the benefit of worship is received by the worshipper, whereas Allah Almighty is free from need, whether that be benefit from worship or anything else.”[3]
Fulfilling the rights of Allah
It is certainly the right of Allah upon His servants that they worship Him. Shāh Waliyullāh Muḥaddith Deḥlawī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states in Ḥujjatullāh al-Bālighah:
A person must firmly believe that it is the right of Allah Almighty upon His servants that they worship Him, and that it is also His right to demand worship from His servants in the same way people demand their rights from others. One day, the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked Sayyidunā MuꜤādh b. Jabal رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ, “Do you know what the right of Allah is upon His servants, and what the right of His servants is upon Him?”
He replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “The right of Allah upon His servants is that they worship Him and associate no partners with Him. The right of the servants upon Allah is that whoever does not commit shirk, He will protect them from punishment.”[4]-[5]
Gratefulness
Gratitude has been instilled in human nature. Since there is no doubt that the true Bestower of blessings is Allah Almighty, it is necessary to worship Him in gratitude for His countless blessings. In fact, worshipping Allah Almighty is a form of thanking Him. Allah Almighty states:
اِعْمَلُوْۤا اٰلَ دَاوٗدَ شُکْرًا ؕ
“O family of Dāwūd! Express gratitude.”[6]
Below this verse in Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī, it is stated:
The essence of gratitude is to acknowledge the blessing of the Bestower, and to utilise the blessing in obedience to Him. Actions such as prayer, fasting, and all types of worship are forms of thankfulness in themselves, as they are in the place of gratitude.[7]
With regards to the best way of showing gratitude though worship, it is sufficient to note that the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم prayed so frequently that his blessed feet would swell. The noble companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم asked, “O Messenger of Allah, why do you endure such hardship when Allah has granted you every kind of pardon?”
The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم answered, “اَفَلَا اَکُوْنُ عَبْدًا شَکُوْرًا Should I not be a grateful servant?”[8]
Becoming closer to Allah
Another wisdom of worship is that one attains proximity to Allah Almighty through it. As mentioned in a Hadith Qudsī, “My servant does not draw closer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts until I begin to love him.”[9] The noble Quran also mentions how the pleasure of Allah Almighty is a reward for worship:
وَ قَالَ رَبُّکُمُ ادْعُوْنِیْۤ اَسْتَجِبْ لَکُمْ ؕ اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ یَسْتَکْبِرُوْنَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِیْ سَیَدْخُلُوْنَ جَہَنَّمَ دٰخِرِیْنَ (۶۰)
And your Lord has said, “Call upon Me, I shall answer your prayer. Certainly, those who become arrogant with regard to worshipping Me, soon they will enter Hell, humiliated.”[10]
Tafsīr Khazaˈin al-ꜤIrfān explains this verse like so:
One interpretation in explanation of this verse is that duꜤāˈ refers to worship, and this is found in many places in the noble Quran. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “اَلدُّعَآ ءُ ھُوَ الْعِبَادَۃُ”[11] Based on this interpretation, the meaning of the verse would be: Worship me, and I will reward you.[12]
Trial and proof of servitude
Worship is not only the fulfilment of Allah Almighty’s command and a practical expression of servitude, but it is a test of faith to determine whether someone gives priority to the pleasure of Allah Almighty despite laziness, negligence, and worldly distractions. Allah Almighty states:
الَّذِیْ خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَ الْحَیٰوۃَ لِیَبْلُوَکُمْ اَیُّکُمْ اَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ
He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is better in virtue[13]
i.e., who is more obedient and sincere.
Spiritual serenity and inner contentment
Worship brings peace to the heart and contentment to the soul. Allah Almighty states:
اَلَا بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوْبُ (ؕ۲۸)
Only through the remembrance of Allah do hearts attain contentment.[14]
Moreover, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was advised that worship is the best way to find relief from the distress caused by the disbelievers:
وَ لَقَدْ نَعْلَمُ اَنَّکَ یَضِیْقُ صَدْرُکَ بِمَا یَقُوْلُوْنَ (ۙ۹۷) فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّکَ وَ کُنْ مِّنَ السّٰجِدِیْنَ (ۙ۹۸)
And We certainly know that your heart is saddened by what they say. So glorify with the praise of your Lord, and be of those who prostrate.[15]
Tafsīr Khazaˈin al-ꜤIrfān explains this verse as follows: “For those who fear Allah Almighty, engaging in the remembrance of Allah Almighty and worship is the best cure for sorrow.”
In conclusion, worship is a complete system of spiritual, physical, and moral benefits which create a deep connection between the servant and his Creator, and is a means of attaining success in this world and the Hereafter.
[1] Al-Quran, Al-Dhāriyāt, verse 56; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[2] Al-Quran, Al-Baqarah, verse 21; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[3] Tafsīr Khazaˈin al-ꜤIrfān, p. 10
[4] Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 269, Hadith 2856
[5] Ḥujjatullāh al-Balighah, p. 67
[6] Al-Quran, Sabaˈ, verse 13; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[7] Tafsīr al-Qurtubī, vol. 7, p. 204
[8] Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 1, p. 384, Hadith 1130
[9] Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 4, p. 248, Hadith 6502
[10] Al-Quran, Al-Muˈmin, verse 60; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[11] JāmiꜤ al-Tirmidhī, vol. 4, p. 452, Hadith 2980
[12] Tafsīr Khazaˈin al-ꜤIrfān, p. 874
[13] Al-Quran, Al-Mulk, verse 2; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[14] Al-Quran, Al-RaꜤd, verse 28; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
[15] Al-Quran, Al-Ḥijr, verses 97-98; translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān
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