Worship

Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, or by a designated leader. Such acts may involve honoring.

116737

Mankind . Worship . God (Allah)

In Islam it is described that God created everything. But why? Why does He create mankind to see if they believe and worship Him and to see if they are good or bad? Why didn't He just leave us in the dark and uncreated?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 years ago

Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Compassionate created us to shower on us His Mercy. Allah does need us and never gets any benefit from our worshiping Him. The benefits are for us only. Allah says in Quran: Except those on whom Your Lord Has bestowed His Mercy, and for that He did create them.(Sura 11, Verse 119).

Wassalam.

111263

Tawassul . Intercession . Surah . Worship . Qur'anic Verse . Surat al-Fatihah

Doesn't the act of Tawassul and intercession go against the verse in Surah Fatiha where it says that it is You we worship and You who we ask for help?

The meanings of the Quranic verses can not be taken just from the superficial linguistic meanings. Allah (SWT) Has clearly mentioned in Quran that it is the responsibility of the Prophet (SAWA) to explain to the people the real meanings of Quran (Sura 16, Verse 44).

The meaning of Sura Al-Hamd verses which you quoted never suggest not to seek Waseela. Prophets were mentioned in Quran seeking help from people like Prophet Musa (AS) who asked people for food, and Prophet Sulaiman (AS) who asked people to help him in getting the throne of Bilqees.

We believe that no one can help with out the permission of Allah (SWT).

We do Tawassul because we are been ordered by Allah (SWT) to seek Waseela ( Sura 4, Verse 64.

Wassalam

106747

Intention (Niyah) . Worship . Shirk

Is is allowed to say Ya Hussain for Shifa without the intention of worship?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 4 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

To worship means to appoint someone/something as divine. This could be in practice, and it could be in one's intention and in their heart.

When any Muslim says or does something, then under no circumstance would they want to defy their religion and leave the perimeters of faith by ascribing a partner to Almighty God, or do shirk, or claim someone/something as being divine.

Any Muslim would know that there is only 1 God, and He has no partner, and He is the only Divine being.

Merely to say Ya, or Labayk does not mean the individual you are referring to is divine. A genuine seeker of the truth would certainly agree with this.

You can say Ya to God, and you can also say Ya to your neighbour, if you are drowning and seek help, for example. The Quran talks about this, saying Ya Musa (a.s.), and beseeching him, doing what we call istighatha.

To say Ya to someone alive, for the purpose of asking for help, cannot be irrational or haram.

Now, to say Ya to someone who is dead, is that ok?

Of course, we do not beseech help or assistance, or intercession from any person, but rather from those who are closer to Almighty God. Those who are considered as "waseelah" to Him.

And such people do hear us, even though they have departed this world, as the Quran [2:154] says:
Do not consider those who are slain for the cause of God to be dead. They are alive but you are unaware of them.

So, when we say Ya Muhammad, or Ya Ali, etc, it is not taken as worship at all. It does not fall under the category of 'ibadah, so how can it be shirk?

With prayers for your success.

104384

Hadith . Worship . Sunni-Shi'a . Imam Ali b. Abi Talib

Is there any reference in Shia books of Hadith for the narration that the remembrance of Imam Ali (a) is worship?

This authentic Hadeeth ذِكرُ عليّ عبادة is narrated in Shia books and Sunni books. Shia books like:

1. Manla Yahdharuhul Faqeeh; Hadeeth number 2145 and 2146

2. Kashful Yaqeen 449.

3. Al-Siratul Mustaqeem, V.1, P. 209.

4. Al-Ekhtisaas as quoted in Biharul Anwaar , V. 91, P. 69.

'Sunni books narrated this Hadeeth from many companions and from 'Aisha saying the she heard Rasoolullah (SAWA) saying: Remembering (mentioning) Ali is a worship.

1. It is narrated by al-Khawarizmi in al-Manaaqib 261.

2. Ibn al-Maghazili in al-Manaaqib, Hadeeth 243.

3. Ibn 'Asaakir in Tareekh Dimishq, V. 42, P. 356.

4. Al-Wissabi in Asnal Mataalib , page 76.

Wassalam.

95992

Worship . Islam

Why is worship during the night given such significance in Islam? What are the merits and benefits behind it?

1. Night worship has special importance because it is usually done away from the eyes of people, hence it strengthens the dedication and sincerity (Ikhlas) and trains the worshiper to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT) and not people.

2. Night worship gives the person better chance to think and ponder about the main facts of life here and hereafter away from the noise of the day life and public.
3. Night worship makes the person remember and evaluate his deeds then thank Allah (SWT) for His bounties and seek forgiveness from sins.

4. Night worship makes the person feel the taste of talking to Allah (SWT) in private which is one of greatest tastes of happiness and comfort in our life.

5. Night prayers makes the heart of the person more oriented towards Allah (SWT) and it increases the love of Allah.

Wassalam.

81784

Government . Muslims . Worship

Is it permissible for a Muslim government to allow non-Muslims to build their places of worship?

It depends on fulfilling the agreement between the Muslim government and the non Muslims. Both are bound to abide to the agreed terms and conditions.

Wassalam.

89003

Worship . God (Allah)

I understand that the Prophet (pbuh) asked a Muslim to worship God as if he sees Him, and even if he doesn’t see Him, God sees the person. How can this be done if we are not supposed to place images of God in our minds?

Abbas Di Palma, Shaykh Abbas Di Palma holds a BA and an MA degree in Islamic Studies, and certifications from the Language Institute of Damascus University. He has also studied traditional Islamic sciences in... Answered 5 years ago

as salam alaikum

the hadith related to the aforementioned statement goes as follows: "The Ihsan is to worship Allah as if you see Him; and even if you do not see Him, He is seeing you" (reported by al-Bukhari, al-Majlisi and others...).

The hadith says "worship Allah AS you see Him..." therefore do not imply physical or imaginative sight. Rather it refers to the awareness of His might and greatness, to know that He is watching over us and we are bound to fulfill our duty in front of Him and for Him. It is an attitude that should move and shake the heart to get more closeness to Him insh'Allah. It does not refer to depict a picture of Allah in ourselves as He is far above of any thought and limits.

With prayers for your success.

79522

Muslims . Islam . Worship . Sunni-Shi'a

Are non-Muslims allowed, according to Shia Islam, to build new places of worship in a Muslim country?

Non Muslims who respect the rules of the Muslim society will enjoy full protection from Muslims and have their full religious freedom as far as they do not break the rules of the society. No Muslim has right to attack any worship place belongs to non Muslims.

Wassalam.

79551

God (Allah) . Worship

Is there a God-given purpose unique to each human being or just the single one of worshiping Allah? If yes, then how does one find this purpose?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 5 years ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. The purpose of every human is to purify themselves so that they increase their level of faith towards the perfection that God created them for. After this general purpose, everyone has their own purpose but that is something that is revealed to them during the course of their lives, or even at their time of death, and even if they are not fully conscious of what that purpose is, or they don't know what it is at all, it will come to pass.

May you always be successful

74046

Worship

Do you have any recommendations for someone who constantly feels that they are performing their worship incorrectly?

Bismillah

Alaykum salaam

Thank you for your question. From what you have described the path that they are on is a slippery slope and they need to start ignoring the urges to keep repeating the actions. When it comes to wudu, a person should make wudu like everyone else. Yes, if they think there is a spot they have missed they can go over it, but nothing out of the ordinary. Water travels differently to oil or something viscous, and so you do not need to keep going over the same areas. As for pronunciation, the same is the case, that if you know you generally pronounce the letters correctly you should ignore the urge to repeat, unless you are absolutely sure you have mispronounced.

This is very difficult in the beginning, but the doubts will only get worse and more debilitating with time. The reason for them is a misunderstanding of what is required from a person performing these actions and the impression that they have to be done with the utmost level of precision, whereas what is really required is that the acts are done normally. It is a trick of satan to push a person into excessive doubts causing the enjoyment of worship to slowly dissipate. The solution is to ignore them.

May you always be successful.

59973

Worship . God (Allah) . Prophet Muhammad

During the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did anyone attempt to worship him as god? If so, what was the reaction of the Prophet (pbuh) to it?

as salam alaikum

there is no clear reference to the fact that some people attempted to worship the Prophet as god during his lifetime. Rather the Qur'an tells us about another tendency among the disbelievers of his time: "Those who entertain no fear about being present before Us, nor do they expect it, say:- Why should not the angels be sent down on us or we see our Lord?-" (25:21). Their asking for angels and even for the Lord himself shows that they did not believe that the Prophet could be a god.

We can deduce this fact also by their saying: " Shall a mere human being guide us?" (64:6).

If someone would have tried to worship the Prophet as god certainly we would have known by multiple reports as such claim would have circulated and caused a particular sensation at that time.

With prayers for your success.

64200

Worship . Health . Prophets

Is it true that the Prophets and Imams spent the whole night in worship? If so, how can we follow this example without negative effects on our health?

Yes, it is true that the Prophet (SAWA) and Infallible Imams used to worship Allah for very long hours in the nights ( two thirds or half or one third of the night) and in special nights for the whole night.

We are not supposed to spend the whole night in worshipping and leave our responsibilities in studying and working , but need to spend some time in the night in worshipping Allah (SWT), thanking His Bounties and preparing ourselves for our real future (Aakhirah).

Wassalam.