The spirit of worship in Islam

The month of fasting is moving fast. Believers have welcomed that blessed month and are indulging in meditation and constant prayers to make these moments the most supreme and the most effective period of their life.

Apart from the compulsory prayers in congregation, the night prayers (Taraweeh prayer) is also a very important form of worship in Ramadan. There is no meaning in indulging ourselves in debates regarding the number of Raka'ats in Taraweeh prayer.

But what is expected of us is to pray the maximum possible by reciting the Qur'an for the maximum possible time and lengthening the Rukus and Sujood for additional Duas. This should be performed so sincerely that we should concentrate in this forgetting all the material and worldly matters. It is reported that the companions of Prophet (pbuh) used to take out the arrows from their bodies during their prayer times, so that they did not know the pain and fear of taking them out since they were completely engrossed in their Salah which is considered as a private conversation between Allah and His servant.

The aspect of concentration and sincerity is very much there if our prayers are to be accepted and answered properly. It is a basic principle in Islam that whatever may be the act, Allah considers it on the basis of the intention behind it. The Qur'an has referred to this aspect in various places.

In one place Allah says: They are not ordered, except to worship Allah sincerely and expecting only His reward. It is in this sense we must understand the Qur'anic verse declaring "woe" to those who perform their prayers for show and that has no influence or effect in their life. It is also to be noted that Allah does not want anybody to perform any action or Ibadat (worship) for the sake of Ibadat. But all Ibadats are aimed at inculcating some moral and ethical support into man.

For example, let us examine the major forms of worship. Salah is compulsory for all Muslims five times a day. Allah states as the purpose of Salah. "Surely Salah prevents from all filthy and hatred activities". That means when a believer performs his prayer with its full spirit that will control him and prevent him from all undesired activities.

It is for this purpose Allah the Almighty has given a scientific planning and timings for Salah. Allah prepares the ground for the spiritual enlightenment and dignity of man without indulging in dirty and prohibited things.

The very practical example which the Prophet (pbuh) explained in this regard is highly relevant. He said: Remember, if a river with pure water is flowing in front of your house and you go there for taking bath five times a day, will there be any dirt left over in your body? Hearing this the companions of the prophet, unanimously said: No. There upon the Prophet (pbuh) said, this is the case with Salah, if you perform it five times a day with its true spirit that will have a considerable influence throughout your dealings and activities.

This is the case with the fasting also. Allah has made this very clear when he mentioned the compulsory nature of fasting. Allah says that fasting is made obligatory for you as it was made obligatory for those before you, so that you may become pious. The most important purpose of fasting is to make the believers God­fearing and pious.

So the created consciousness of duty and the spirit of patience that incessant fasting for one full month inculcates in the believers help them to strengthen their Iman. Rigour and discipline during this month bring the believers face to face with the realities of life and help them to make their life, during the rest of the year, a life of true subservience to Allah's will and pleasure.

From yet another point of view fasting has an immense impact on society, for all the Muslims irrespective of their status must observe fast during the same month. This brings to prominence the essential equality of men and thus goes a long way towards creating in them sentiments of love and brotherhood. During Ramadan evil conceals itself while good comes to the fore and the whole atmosphere is filled with piety and purity.

This discipline has been imposed on us to our own advantage. Those who do not fulfil this primary duty imposed on them cannot be safely relied upon in the discharge of their other duties. But the worst are those who during this holy month do not hesitate to eat or drink in public. They are the people who by their conduct show that they care not a trifle for the commands of Allah in Whom they profess their belief as their Creator and Sustainer.

Not only this, they also show that they are not loyal members of the Muslim community - rather they have nothing to do with it. It is evident that, in so far as obedience to law and regard for a trust reposed in them goes, only the worst could be expected of such hypocrites.

The case is not different with Zakat and Haj also. Zakat is made obligatory on our Property so as a prescribed share to the poor, destitute, religious cause, way­farer, those who work for collecting and distributing it, indebted persons with financial burdens, salvation of slaves, etc. This will pave the way for the mental growth of man and annihilate the overambition for money, which unless controlled makes life terrible and uneasy.

Haj is ordained and believers are asked to prepare for the holy pilgrimage. Piety is the ultimate aim and the essence of worship in Islam. If this aspect is neglected then all forms of worship will be meaningless. We will not get any rewards but we may get punishment for not doing things in the proper way. May Allah help us to perform our Ibadat sincerely in the desired way and give us the promised reward.

Even when we do anything for the cause of Allah we are advised to ask Allah to accept it as an acceptable deed and give us the proper reward. The prophets of Allah had shown typical examples of this in their life. The beloved Prophets of Allah, Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be on them) raised their hands towards Allah and prayed for acceptance after doing the most tiresome job of building the first house for the worship of Allah (The Ka'aba). They prayed on that occasion, O Allah please accept from us, verily you are All­Hearing and All­Knowing, accept our repentance, surely you are the one who accepts our repentance and the most Merciful.

The Prophet (pbuh) also used to pray to Allah for accepting the good deeds and for reward from Allah. We must understand that prayer is the strongest weapon of the believer. He should keep on praying to his creator for everything he wants. Surely the sincere prayers are accepted and rewarded.

The highest desire of a Muslim in this world is to live as a devoted servant to Allah till his death and paradise in the hereafter. The Prophet (pbuh) has asked us to ask Allah for Jannatul Firdous, which is prepared for the selected Servants of Allah. This is the coveted goal of a true believer in this life and we are asked to pray continuously for 'Hidayat' (divine guidance).

Throughout our prayer we say "show us the straight path, the path of those whom Thou has favoured not the path of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray." This is because whomever Allah bestows with guidance nobody can misguide him to the wrong way and whomever Allah misguides him out of his own acts and deeds, nobody can guide him to the straight way.

Allah's guidance will come to the pious and God­fearing people only. So we are expected to acquire these qualities to get the divine guidance and special blessings of Allah. The Qur'an often reminds us that Allah is enough for His servants and He never likes His servants asking anything to the creatures, rather He likes them asking Him directly with a sincere and repentant heart.

On the basis of this observation we come to the conclusion that the essence of Islamic worship is to prepare ourselves for a pious life abiding by the instructions of Allah. We may find out now why our acts of worship are not effective or why our daily lives remain unaffected by the various forms of worship we offer. Here we can see that there two aspects for every human actions. First one is the goal or target and the second one is the means to reach the goal.

For example, just take the case of eating. All of us are eating several times a day. What is our goal by consuming food. It is to maintain good health and satisfy the appetite and the means or ways we do is we will make the food in the desired way for digestion and eat it. What we say about a person who tries to eat stone or pieces of wood. We will say that he has not understood the target of eating and he does not know to reach the target. Another person takes his food properly. But just after swallowing it he deliberately vomits and throws out what he has already taken.

Then says that I do not find any benefit of taking this food rather despite my constant consumption of food my body becomes weaker and weaker every day. We may call him a fool ignorant of the purpose of eating and out of his misunderstanding that once he had taken his food he need not put the burden of keeping the food inside his stomach he vomits it. All of us will agree that he is doing a number one blunder. He should have understood that by simply taking food inside will not help him in no way. If his body is to be reinforced with energy he loses out of his activities, he should take nutritious food and the food should be digested in his stomach and all the process of conversion of food into energy should take place in the proper way.

This simple example we can apply in our 'Ibadat' also. If our acts of worships are not found useful to the upliftment of our character and ways of living it should be realised that some things have gone wrong with the execution of the prescribed forms of worships. Once the essence of Islamic worship is understood and practised, it is sure that it will have eternal effect throughout the life of a person; and in this sense we can see all our life becomes 'Ibadat' accepted and rewarded by Allah.

A believer's life and time is precious and he is expected to use it effectively for attaining the favours of Allah in all ways and means taught and proclaimed by Allah and His messenger (pbuh). The life on earth is very short and this is actually a testing period. The best and eternal is the life what awaits in the hereafter. Death is certain and nobody can know its exact date and time.

So we are taught to strive to make maximum efforts for getting the satisfaction of Allah, which will make our life fruitful, peaceful, happy in this world and the life hereafter the most enjoyable in the paradise. Allah has showed various ways to fulfil this goal and arranged opportunities for increasing good acts. Ramadan is the most important occasion for a believer to reach closer to his creator by way of his worship. Allah has offered multiplied rewards for all our good deeds.

During this blessed month we must not avoid even a single chance to attain more favours of Allah for once the time is gone we cannot get it back and we are not sure that we may live up the next Ramadan. That is why occasionally Qur'an urges us to spend something in the cause of Allah before death comes and asks us to see that what he had earned for tomorrow (the life hereafter). Now let us examine how can we maximise our effort during this month to make our hereafter peaceful and comfortable.

The reward for honouring a faster by feeding him during Iftar is exemption from the hell and forgiveness of his sins. It is also taught that he will be eligible for the same reward of the faster. Without reducing any of his virtues. When the Prophet encouraged his companions for this the poor people came with an appeal that all of them are not in a position to feed the faster in a good way. Then the Prophet (pbuh) advised them to guard themselves from the Hell fire even with a piece of date fruit or with one gulp of water. This means that even though we are not able to give the fasters luxurious foods and all, we will be entitled to the foresaid reward if we invite a poor faster for Iftar and offer him whatever you possess.

The Prophet added that whoever feed the faster sincerely expecting Allah's reward, he will be offered the royal water from well of Kausar and once he drinks it he will not feel thirsty until he enters the Paradise.

We should co relate this with the hadith explaining the seven group Allah will keep them in His shade, the day when there will not be any shade except His. We are reminded of the fact that the fasters will be feeded on that day and they will drink their belly full. Allah has arranged this month is a way that the beginning is Mercy, Middle is forgiveness and End is Salvation from the Hell fire. That means when you start fasting during this blessed month you will be covered with the Mercy of the Almighty, Allah and when you reach the middle days He forgives you all your sin and by the end of this glorified month He will emancipate you from Hell fire and since your sins are forgiven and so many virtues are added you will be automatically admitted to the Paradise.

This month is introduced as a month of sympathy, love and affection. The Prophet (pbuh) has said. Whoever reduces the burden and work of those who are under him. Allah will forgive him and save him from the Hell fire. Because during this period we should feel that those who work under us also are fasting and we are to try to decrease their hardships, not to increase it. It is reported that during the Ramadan the Prophet used to release the Imprisoned and gave the asked. It is remarkable here that one of the basic teachings of Islam in you make things easy to the people, never make it difficult, and you give good news to the people never disappoint them with your words. During this month let us show our love, solidarity, unity, integrity, sympathy, affection and all to our fellow beings and all can enjoy the good fruits of fasting in this world as in the life hereafter.

Another thing recommended during this month is spending more in charity for the betterment and welfare of Islamic societies and institutions. It is reported from the Prophet (pbuh) that if you show mercy to those on earth, Allah will show mercy on you.

Believers are urged to be more generous and magnanimous to all people especially during this month. The Prophet (pbuh) who was a symbol of meekness, generosity and magnanimity used to show more favours to the poor and spend more for them.

The Prophet used to pray O Allah make this blessed month a deponent for us, not a deponent against us. May Allah accept our deeds and honour us by admitting us into the Paradise He had prepared for His selected people. Here special concentration on Ramadan is given for two purposes. First, we are going through this glorious month, secondly all our Ibadat, have added rewards and favour during this month. I think that noting some of the virtues of Ramadan is also relevant in this context.

1. As we know the everlasting book of divine guidance, the Holy Qur'an was revealed during this month. So fasting is a form of worship showing gratitude to Allah for his Kindness in selecting us sending down the Qur'an.

2. Allah, the Almighty has promised multiplied rewards, from ten times to seven hundred times - to all good acts of man during this period. Except fasting. It has much more than that. Allah says that this is because a believer avoid all his foods, drinks and means of pleasures for Allah's sake.

3. Allah has considered the bad smell of the faster - which comes out of abstaining from eating and drinking for long hours - better than the fragrance of 'misk.'

4. The faster has two unique joyous opportunities. The first one is when he breaks his fast and the second one is when he meets his Lord.

5. Allah has arranged a special gate called, Rayyan to welcome the fasters; through which only the fasters should enter. Once all the fasters have entered that door will be closed.

6. Allah sends a special angel to the nearest sky to announce, on the advent of Ramadan, that O, those who intends to do good deeds come forward and those who intends to do bad deeds go back. This prepares a spiritual atmosphere and encouragement for good deeds.

7. All nights of RamaAllah will salvate a number of people from the Hell fire. That Allah will decide not to send them to Hell considering their good deeds during this month.

8. By the beginning of this month doors of paradise are opened, doors of Hell are closed and satans are chained. For a doer of good deeds will find it helpful and convenient to do more in the cause of Allah.

9. There is a special night called the Night of power, where destiny of all people on earth is decided on that day. That night is better than one thousand months since the revelation of the Holy Qur'an began in it.

10. Three things are recommended during Ramadan to get our sins forgiven. They are sincerely fasting, night prayers and make long prayers during the Night of power.