Tag: human freedom

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New Muslims Pillars of Islam

What Are the Individual and Social Effects of Worship?

By Abdul-Rahman Al Sheha

Worship is obligatory upon every Muslim who is mentally sane and has reached the age of puberty. Performing the five pillars of Islam is a means to enter Jannah (Paradise) after receiving the Mercy of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) once said to a Bedouin who came and asked:

What Are the Individual and Social Effects of Worship

Worship builds ties of brotherhood, cooperation, bonding, and security between the individuals.

“‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of the prayer.’ He replied, ‘The five (daily) prayers, except if you wish to perform some voluntary ones.’ He asked, ‘Tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of the fasting.’ He replied, ‘The month of Ramadan, except if you wish to perform some voluntary ones.’ He said, ‘Tell me what Allah has obligated upon me in terms of Zakah.’ (The narrator) said ‘So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informed him of the legislations of Islam.’ The Bedouin said, ‘By Him who has honored you, I will not do any voluntary acts, and I will not leave anything of what Allah has ordered me.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘He has succeeded (or, ‘He will enter Jannah’) if he is saying the truth.’” (Al-Bukhari)

Individual Effects of Worship

1- The believers will achieve happiness and success in the life of this world as well as the Hereafter. Allah (Exalted be He) says:

Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success, (as well as he who) remembers (glorifies) the Name of his Lord, and prays. (Al-A`la 87:14-15)

2- Physical and spiritual strength which results when one amiably and privately converses with Allah. Allah says:

Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him (keep their duty unto Him), and those who are muhsinoon (good-doers). (An-Nahl 16:128)

3- The Help of Allah and establishing His believing slaves’ authority on the earth. Allah says:

Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause). Truly, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order the establishment of the Salah, the paying of the Zakah, and they enjoin all good, and forbid all evil (i.e. they make the Qur`an as the law of their country in all the spheres of life). And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters (of creatures). (Al-Hajj 22:40-41)

Social Effects of Worship

4- The building of ties of brotherhood, cooperation, bonding, and security between the individuals in an Islamic society. Allah says:

The believers, men and women, are awliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin all good, and forbid from all evil; they establish the Salaah and give the Zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise. (At-Tawbah 9:71)

5- The guidance of Allah and the success which is only granted by Him:

O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqaan (a criterion to judge between right and wrong),and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you. (Al-Anfal 8:29)

6- An abundance of provision from Allah and way out of hardship. Allah says:

And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. (At-Talaq 65:2-3)

7- A multiplication of reward and expiation of sins. Allah says:

And whosoever believes in Allah and performs righteous good deeds, He will remit from him his sins, and will admit him to Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever, that will be the great success. (At-Taghabun 64:9)

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The article is an excerpt from the author’s “How to Become a Muslim”.

 

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Categories
Divine Unity New Muslims

What Is the Purpose of Our Creation?

Non-believers are unable to provide any convincing reason for the existence of this universe or of human life. People who believe there is a Creator assume that creation occurred by His will.

But in a world where everything is shown to have a purpose, it is natural for a human being to wonder about the purpose of his own creation.

One is surely justified in expecting the Creator who put us on this earth to inform us why He did so and what He expects of us.

The Qur’an informs us that He did just that. It says God created us for a test here on earth, conveying His words:

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned? (Al-Mu’minun 23:115-116)

A non-believer might decide that the objective of his life will be to collect wealth, obtain position or pursue pleasure to the greatest extent possible.

But none of this will benefit him in the long run. According to His final scripture, God created man to test him with certain responsibilities:

That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them – as to which of them are best in conduct. (Al-Kahf 8:7)

He did not intend life on this earth to necessarily be comfortable or satisfying but merely a trial of limited duration, the punishment and rewards of which will be due in the Hereafter.

As mentioned previously, most of creation is «Muslim» in that it is programmed to obey the physical laws set by God, and (his is why the universe functions with balanced equilibrium.

Man, however, was given a free will and the ability to either obey or disobey. But God will not allow His universal balance lo be upset indefinitely by defiant, corrupt and sinful people, so He only grants human beings a measure of freedom in a temporary world.

This Life & the Next

The scheme of birth, development, decline and death provides each with the opportunity to prove to himself without a doubt what he will deserve on the Day of Judgment, which God created for the manifestation of His ultimate justice.

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the believing Muslim because he realizes that it will determine his outcome and permanent position in the next life. He lives to earn the approval of his Creator in preparation for the final return to Him.

We all recognize that people make things to perform specific functions for them, in other words, to serve them. God has made us to serve Him, but with one major difference; it is not for the benefit of the Creator Himself but for the benefit of us, His creation. The purpose of our existence is thus stated in the Qur’an:

I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)

Why We Choose to Worship God?

But man’s worship of God is not automatic like the vast majority of created beings but by his own choice and effort, and this is what entitles him to honor and reward.

«How should one worship God in order to fulfill that purpose?» This question can undoubtedly best be answered by Him. God has provided every element of His creation, living and inanimate, with guidance.

We can thus expect that He would provide us with guidance as well. His revelation instructs humanity what to do, what to avoid, and the reason for it. It informs man what is expected of him, how to accomplish it, and the results of continual positive effort.

Through Prophet Muhammad, God revealed to man the ways of worship suitable to his physical and psychological nature and individual talents, and in harmony with his particular role on the earth. These, in combination, are what enable Him to fulfill the purpose of His creation.

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Source: The article is excerpted from the book Clear Your Doubts about Islam, Compiled by Saheeh international.

 

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