Definition of Worship

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise and thanks be to Allah! We praise and thank Him, ask Him for His Help and Forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and the mischiefs of our deeds. He whom Allah guides will not be misled, and he whom Allah misleads will never have a guide. I testify that there is no deity but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad is His 'Abd (worshiper) and Messenger.(1) To proceed, 

Sheikh Al-Islaam, the famous amongst the famous, protector of As-Sunnah, suppressor of Al-Bid'ah (innovation in Ad-Deen), Ahmad bin Abd Al-Haleem bin Taymiyah (RA) was asked the following about Allah's (AWJ) saying, 

"Oh mankind! worship your Lord." [Al-Baqarah:21] 

What is Al-'Ibaadah (the worship)? What are its branches? Is the whole of Ad-Deen encompassed in it? What is the reality of Al-'Uboodiyah? And is it the highest attainable position in this world and in the Hereafter or if there is any rank better than it? Please expound upon that. 

Ibn Taymiyah (RA) replied, 

Al-'Ibaadah is a term which comprises everything that Allah (SWT) loves and approves of from the apparent and hidden sayings and deeds. In this context As-Salaat (prayer); Az-Zakaat (charity tax); As-Siyaam (fasting); Al-Hajj (pilgrimage); truthfulness in speech; trustworthiness; kindness to parents; maintaining kind relationship with relatives; fulfilling pledges; enjoining the good and forbidding the evil; striving against Al-Kuffaar (the faith rejectors) and the hypocrites; beneficience to the neighbor, the orphan, the poor, the wayfarer, and the owned beings whether human or animal; Ad-Du'aa (supplication); Adth-Dthikr (remembrance of Allah); Al-Qiraa-ah (recitation of Al-Quraan); and the like are all part of Al-'Ibaadah. 

Likewise, loving Allah (AWJ) and His Messenger (SAAWS), apprehension before Allah and returning repentantly to Him, sincerity in Ad-Deen for Him, patience with His Ordainment, thankfulness for His Bounties, contentment with His Decree, dependence on Him, hope for His Mercy, fear of His Punishment and the like are also part of Al-'Ibaadah due to Allah (SWT). 

In fact worshiping Allah (AWJ) is the beloved purpose before Him, and which contents Him, it being the reason for which He (SWT) created the creation. As Allah (AWJ) said, 

"And I created not the Jinns and men except that they should worship Me (Alone)." [Adth-Dthaariyaat:56] 

1) This paragraph is not in all the manuscripts. It is a portion from the Speech of Need which Rasool-Allah (SAAWS) used to open his speeches with and Sheikh Al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyah often used to open hs speeches with in compliance with As Sunnah. See "KhutbatAI-Haajah" by AI-Muhaddith As-Sheikh Muhammad Naasir Ad-Deen Al-Albaani. 

Ibaadurrahman, Great Believer

Allah (SWT) has made Al-'Ibaadah imperative on His Messenger until death. He (AWJ) said. 

"And worship your Lord (O Muhammad) until there comes unto you the Hour that is certain (i.e. death)." [Al-Hijr:99] 

By this qualifying distinction (Al-'Ibaadah) Allah (AWJ) described His Angels and Prophets. He (AWJ) said, 

"To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those who are in His very presence (the Angels) disdain not to worship Him, nor do they ever weary in this. They exalt Him night and day (and) they never slacken (to do so)." [Al-Anbiyaa:l 9 - 20]; and, 

"Surely those who are in the very presence of your Lord disdain not to worship Him; they celebrate His praises, and prostrate before Him." [Al-A'raaf:206] 

Allah (SWT) disgraced those who are disdainful of Al-'Ibaadah by saying, 

"And your Lord said: 'Invoke Me, and I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! those who scorn My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!'" [Al-Moo-min:60] 

Understand of Tawheed (Believer)

Allah (swt ), says:

" And those who live in awe for fear of their Rabb; And those who believe in the Signs of their Rabb, And those who join not anyone [in worship] as partners with their Rabb; And those who give that which they give [i.e. charity] with their hearts full of fear [whether their charity has been accepted or not], because they are sure to return to their Rabb" (Qur'an 23:57-60)


In these verses, Allah (swt ), describes the Believers by four of their attributes for which they deserve praise and commendation: They fear the punishment of their Rabb, they believe in the revealed Signs of Allah (swt ) and His natural Signs (the planets, the stars, the seasons, the animals, the birds, the plants etc.) which prove the existence of Him (swt ) and the truth of the Message of Muhammad (saas ); and they are guided by these Signs and do not associate partners with Allah (swt ), either openly, or secretly; and because of their strong faith, they fear that Allah (swt ) will not accept their charity and good deeds; and Allah (swt ) Testifies to their mutual rivalry in performing virtuous deeds, and He Informs us that they precede others in doing so.

The Benefits Derived From These Verses

1. The obligation to fear Allah.

2. The obligation of belief in the signs of Allah.

3. The forbiddance of Shirk in all its manifestations.

4. The concern of the Believers as to whether or not their deeds will be accepted.

5. The preferability of competing with others in the performance of good deeds.