In Islam, the term ‘worship’ refers to any deed that one does within the teachings of Islam seeking the Pleasure of Allah. It can be mental, physical, spoken or otherwise. All such actions will be rewarded. There are five acts of worship that are so fundamental that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) grouped them together as the Five Pillars of Islam. Every Muslim is expected to fulfill these obligations. They are:
Shahadah (The Declaration of Faith)
Recognizing and acknowledging the monotheistic nature of Allah stands at the core of Islam. This is to firmly believe in the heart and declare: “I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.” This is known as the Shahadah. Once a person declares it, he or she becomes a Muslim.
The Shahadah has two parts. Firstly, it is a declaration that Allah is the only Lord and Ruler, and He Alone is worthy of worship. He has no partner, and He cannot be compared with any other thing. Everything is under His Control and His Command. Mankind is also required to live according to the Commands of Allah. Allah loves those who follow His command and He dislikes those who disobey Him.
The second part of the Shahadah is the declaration that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. He was selected by Almighty Allah as the last Messenger and was given the Glorious Qur’an. Muslims are required to obey the Prophet (peace be upon him) and follow his example without hesitation. Muslims are also required to honor and respect him offering blessings and salutations. Whenever his name is mentioned we must say: Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam meaning “Allah’s peace and blessings upon him.”
Salah – Prayer
Prayer or Salah is obligatory on every Muslim five times a day.
Almighty Allah says:
Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours. (An-Nisa’4:103)
It is the distinguishing feature of Islam and the most obvious act by which a Muslim shows his obedience to Allah. A person who abandons prayer is at utmost risk.
Allah created us for wisdom; it is to Worship Him Alone. Almighty Allah says:
I have only created jinn and men, that they may worship Me. (Az-Zariyat 51:56)
Praying regularly reminds us of this purpose and brings us closer to Allah thereby preventing us from straying off the right path. Almighty Allah says:
O all you who believe, bow down and prostrate yourselves and worship your Lord, and do good deeds, so that you may be successful. (Al-Hajj 22:77)
Theoretical recognition of Allah and saying you believe in your heart is not sufficient. Many people say that they worship Allah in their own way, but by taking this view we make ourselves gods and decide how Allah should be worshipped, rather than following His Command.
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The wisdom behind the creation of Jinn and
human beings is that they recognize their Lord and worship Him Alone,
though Allah is in no need of worship by anyone.
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