The purpose of worship

Worship has been defined diversely by muslim theologians relying on its linguistic connotations of submission, obedience, love and humility.

Some of the definitions have limitations because they smack of narrow mindedness where it is restricted to the religious ritual practices of prayer, fasting, zakat and performance of pilgrimage (Hajj).

The most salient, potent and comprehensive of all the definitions given "worship in Islam" is the submission of Ibn Taymiyya on the subject. He opined that "worship" should carry the original connotations of submission and obedience and adds that "worship" of the Creator can never be attained without the element of "love".

In other words, we worship Allah, the Almighty, because we love Him. And, the deepest expression of this "love" for Allah, the Almighty, is to love everything that is loved by Allah, the Almighty.

Consequently, in his incisive definition of "worship" he states:
Worship (Al-Ibaadat) is a comprehensive name that cover everything that is loved by Allah, the Almighty, be it on utterance or a practical deed, secret or open.

On the basis of this, performance of prayers, payment of alms (zakat), fasting, pilgrimage to Makkah, frankness in talk, sincere holding in-trust of others' possessions, kindness to parents, protection of one's blood relations, fulfillment of promises, inviting people to good acts and preventing them from perpetrating in untoward deeds, pursuit of "jihad" against infidels and hypocrites, being generous (kind) toward one's neighbour, the orphan, the needy, the wayfarer , those possessed by others, animals; remembrance of Allah, the Almighty and reading of the Quran are all manifestations of worship.

Additionally, deep love for Allah, the Almighty and His Messenger, being sincere to Him, the Almighty, being patient and content with whatever He decrees and enjoins, being thankful to Him for His blessings, total reliance on Him, being hopeful of attaining His compassion, and being fearful of His punishment all come under the cover of the meaning of worship. (Ibn Taymiyya , 1985;38)

From the above definition, it is quite clear that "worship" covers every realm of human endeavour and activity. It covers the five pillars of Islam, it covers morals; it covers shariah; it covers propagation of Islam; it covers family life.

It was against the background of the above comprehensive definition of "worship" that all the four Imams of Islamic legal thought, namely, Abu Hanifa, Malik, Al-Shaafi, and Ahmed Ibn Hanbal,opined that every act of the muslim, no matter how mean it is, is part of "worship" and he/she will be rewarded for it if the act is accompanied by sound intention.

And, a sound intention means doing the act for the sake of Allah, the Almighty. In other words, "sincerity of heart" becomes the key factor that determines the status of an act or deed in the sight of Allah, the Almighty.
This underscores the indispensable status occupied by the principle of "sincerity of the heart" in the sea of believers.

To sum up the thought-provoking and comprehensive definition of "worship" by Ibn Taymiyya, everything that is dictated by Islam is part of worship.

Ordinary actions such as sleep, relaxation, and feeding; pursuit of business activities; the pursuit of knowledge..... etc, all come under the scope of worship when propelled by "sincerity of heart". It is, therefore, heartening to observe that no deed of the believer goes in vain once it is accomplished by "sincerity of heart".

At this juncture, it is important to point out that "worship" essentially has two bases namely, first, doing whatever that Allah, the Almighty, has instructed His servants to do and staying away from whatever
He has asked His servants to stay away from; and second, the doing of the above should come from a believer whose heart is filled with deep love for Allah, the Almighty. That is the true essence of "worship" in Islam. Ibn Qayyim (1985; vol 1 p99) sums up the love for Allah, the Almighty, in the following words: