Awareness of Worship

“Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you”. ¹⁶
(The Prophet Muhammad (saw))

Allah created humans in the perfect manner, and put everything in the universe into their service. He equipped them with outstanding capabilities such as reasoning, producing solutions, thinking, speaking, writing, living according to their will. He expects humans to serve only Himself.

Being a servant means submitting to Allah the Almighty with absolute obedience, being deeply connected to Him, and taking the responsibility of being a human. Being a servant means being aware that Allah knows everything you did for either good or evil, one day you will be accounted for all of your deeds. Being a servant requires faith and good morals as well as worshiping. Worship is the essence of servitude and the purpose of the creation of the human. Therefore, humans should not forget that He is Allah ^(swt) who grants countless blessings to them, and refresh their awareness as servants by worshiping.

Worshiping enables people who are always in the need of Allah to express themselves directly to Allah without any tool or vehicle. One who accepts the articles of faith should maintain worshiping to preserve and strengthen this belief.

There are fundamental acts of worships that Islam commands and every Muslim who are capable should perform. These are uttering the kalimah al-shahadah, in other words testifying that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger; performing salah (prayer); paying zakat (almsgiving); performing Hajj (Pilgrimage); and fasting (sawm) during the month of Ramadan.

Other than these fardh (obligatory) acts of worship, everything conducted with good intentions and sincerity counts as good deeds and will be rewarded. Accordingly, behaviors such as enjoining thegood and forbidding the evil, looking out for the justice among people, providing sustenance for the family, saluting and smiling at people, and giving sadaqah (charity) are regarded as acts of worship.

Acts aiming goodness such as doing good to their spouses, parents and children, having good relations with their relatives and neighbors, making an upset person happy, showing love to an orphan, meeting the expenses of a student in need, respecting an elderly, and supporting a disabled person are also regarded as worship.

When a person shares their knowledge and experience, makes trade and carries out their business in an honest and trustworthy way, makes effort to keep young people from bad habits, protects nature and looks out for animal rights, these are also regarded as acts of worship.

If a person tries to be away from bad morals, makes effort to adopt good habits and control themselves, and tries to be an easy person rather than a troublesome person, then it means that they have the awareness of worship.

Worshiping purifies humans from humane weaknesses, disciplines them, and teaches them intent, will and patience. Humans learn time control by five time daily prayers, importance of food by fasting, equality and brotherhood by hajj, and sharing by zakat. Although these acts of worship look like just certain rules, moves and forms at first sight, the source of love, respect and obeyance to Allah lays beneath these moves.

Worshiping keeps people away from negative feelings and thoughts such as selfishness, arrogance, misgiving, jealousy, extravagance, ambition, greediness etc. Worshiping educates, nourishes and matures humans, and helps them to be beneficial for themselves and the society.

¹⁶ Bukhari, Tafsir, Luqman, 31.