Worship is the
highest form of humility before Allah. It is the purpose behind the
creation of all human being and the mission of all the Prophets sent by Allah
as mentioned in Surah al-Za’riyat Ayah
56: “We have created Jinn and human beings
only that they might worship Me (follow My laws).” Similarly, the mission
of the Prophets has been to invite people to worship Allah as stated in Surah al-Nahl Ayah 36: “To every nation We
sent a Messenger who told its people, “Worship
Allah and stay away from Shaitan.” However, it may be realized that Allah
does not need our worship; as stressed in
Surah al-Ikhlas Ayah 2: “Allah is Absolute (Self-Sufficient)” and also Surah
al-Zumar Ayah 7: “…know that Allah is certainly independent of you.” The
benefits of worship return to the worshippers themselves.”
Worship is in man’s instinct and an integral part of human
beings. In the earlier period of civilization, man worshiped sun and other
deities, but the Prophets guided human beings to worship Allah.
Worship means devoting
all dimensions of life to the Divine Will and Pleasure. It has significant
effects on man’s life. Man and his efforts will perish but whatever is done for
His Pleasure remains as an asset as mentioned in Surah al-Nahl Ayah 96: “Whatever you possess is transient and whatever
is with Allah is everlasting.”
If the purpose behind our deeds be a Godly one and we could
set our intention, motive and direction of our activities along the path of
Divine Will and conduct ourselves as true servant of Allah, then our every
activities will become spiritual like eating, travelling, dressing,
housekeeping, studying etc.
The concept of worship is not restricted to the prayer and
fasting. Acts which are beneficial to
the people are all acts of worship.
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s) said: “Worship
has seventy parts, the best of which is earning lawful (halal) sustenance.
Also, seeking knowledge to refute falsehood and turn deviation into guidance is
equivalent to forty years of worship. The best act of worship is to wait for
the relief (faraj) with the advent of Imam Mahdi (a.t.f.)” The Infallible Imam
Jafar al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “Worship is not excessive praying and fasting. Verily,
worship is reflection on the creations of Allah.
It is reported in Ahadees that two raka’at of the prayer of
a scholar are better than seventy raka’at of prayer of an ignorant person. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) said: “Prayer
performed on the basis of reflection and consciousness is accepted.” Prayer
must be performed with love, enthusiasm, fervor and pleasure. Any act of worship not purely for the sake
of Allah but out of ostentation, hypocrisy, demagogy, and show-off have no
value and hence are not accepted by
Allah as mentioned in Surah al-Kahf
Ayah 110: “Whoever desires to meet his Lord should strive righteously and should worship no one
besides Him (do not show-off to others)” Prayer must be performed with
humility with a sense of Allah’s grandeur and our own insignificance before Him
as directed in Surah al-Muminun Ayah 1
and 2: “Triumphant indeed are the
believers, who are submissive to Allah in their prayers….” There is a
Hadees which says: “Worship Allah as if
you can see Him, and think as if it is your last prayer!”
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an, Wasail ash-Shia, Muhajja al-Baydah,
Nahaj al-Fasahah, Safina al-Bahar, Misbah ash-Shariah, Bihar al-Anwar,
Radiance-secret of prayer by Maulana Muhsin Qara’ati
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