Reverencing God

[4:131] To GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth, and we have enjoined on those who received the scripture before you, and enjoined on you, that you shall reverence GOD. If you disbelieve, then to GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. GOD is in no need, Praiseworthy.

[5:35] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed.

[9:119] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD, and be among the truthful.

[23:1-2] Successful indeed are the believers; who are reverent during their Contact Prayers (Salat).

Throughout the Quran, as shown in the verses above, God tells us that we are to reverence Him and be reverent of Him at all times, especially during our contact prayers (Salat). But what does it mean to be reverent?

The Merriam-Webster's English dictionary defines reverence (noun) as:

(1) honor or respect felt or shown: deference; especially: profound adoring awed  respect;
(2) a gesture of respect (as a bow).

The 1913 Webster's Revised Unabridged dictionary defines reverence (n.) as: profound respect and esteem mingled with fear and affection, as for a holy being or place.

From these definitions it seems what God is telling us is that submitters must honor, respect, fear and love Him. That seems simple enough, and for the One who created everything and everyone and who sustains us in every possible way, it is not a lot to ask of us.

So, what do we need to do to carry out this commandment to reverence God? By God's grace, as always, God doesn't leave us without answers.

Reverencing God means being aware of and honoring Him in our lives. It means being deeply respectful of Him in our worship. Those who reverence God—worship Him and obey Him. This starts to make sense when we stop to consider the purpose of our life here on this earth. Our sole mission as far as this world goes is to choose God as our only Lord and Master and to worship Him alone in hopes of redeeming ourselves back into His eternal kingdom (51:56). In order to accomplish this we must submit all that we are to Him; we must reverence God; we must worship God; we must obey God.

[7:56] Do not corrupt the earth after it has been set straight, and worship Him out of reverence, and out of hope. Surely, GOD's mercy is attainable by the righteous.

[29:16] Abraham said to his people, "You shall worship GOD, and reverence Him. This is better for you, if you only knew.

[24:52] Those who obey GOD and His messenger, and reverence GOD and observe Him, these are the triumphant ones.

God tells us in these verses that we should worship Him "out of reverence and out of hope" (7:56, 32:16).  We should worship God out of respect and out of profound awe. Notice though that in verse 29:16 God tells us to worship and reverence Him. This means that not only do we have to "go through the motions" of worshipping God by abiding by His commandments and carrying out the rites decreed for us, but our hearts must be fully devoted as we worship. Our hearts must fill with respect, honor and love of God.

Reverencing God means putting God’s commandments above all else. Reverencing God is a continuous act of worship;

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