|
Cont'd from page 2
[100:6] The human being is unappreciative of his Lord.
[80:17] Woe to the human being; he is so unappreciative!
So let’s really turn that around. Let’s really be appreciative. Let’s thank God for each blessing. Let’s appreciate all we have, all we’ve done, and all we need to do. Appreciation can be the antidote for unappreciation. It can be the antidote for everything. It will keep us healthy and neutralize the toxins Satan keeps throwing at us.
* * * * *
For many people, worship means performing Salat, Zakat, fasting and Hajj pilgrimage. Though these are practices of worship that the Quran prescribes, worship can have a broader understanding.
Worship can be seen as an all-inclusive term, which covers all that a believer says and does exclusively for the pleasure of God. Some of the attributes of GOD includethe Creator of all things, the One, the Supreme; He is Omniscient, Omnipresent; God is Compassionate, the Cognizant; God is Forgiver, Clement; God is Hearer, Seer; He is always near, responsive; To Him belongs all sovereignty, and to Him you will be returned; God is watchful over all things. Through His Supreme knowledge, God is nearer to us than our jugular vein (50:16). He knows more about us than we do of ourselves even before the creation of the heavens and the earth (53:32).
Since these are attributes of God, there are certain formalities required to offer worship, which also means submission unto God alone. Worship consists of certain prescribed modes of prayer as well as belief, behaviour and personal contribution of an individual for the common good of society. If you uphold the Quran alone, that too is a form of worship. A broader term used by the Quran for worship is “Zikr” which needs no specific posture, tone or direction. The Quran reveals this fact in various places:
[3:191] They remember GOD while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Save us from the retribution of Hell.”
[76:25] And commemorate the name of your Lord day and night. [76:26] During the night, fall prostrate before Him, and glorify Him many a long night.
[7:205] You shall remember your Lord within yourself, publicly, privately, and quietly, day and night; do not be unaware.
[2:115] To GOD belongs the east and the west; wherever you go there will be the presence of GOD. GOD is Omnipresent, Omniscient.
[55:26] Everyone on earth perishes. [55:27] Only the presence of your Lord lasts. Possessor of Majesty and Honor.
The word Zikr has wider connotations. In its verbal significance it implies to remember, to praise by frequently mentioning, to magnify, to glorify, to rehearse, to celebrate, to commemorate, to please. When we attain this exalted state of Zikr, we become eligible for God’s Favour, if He so wills, and He continues His Blessings culminating in our eventual salvation. The Almighty proclaims [2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.
So, if we remember God, He will remember us; if we advance a step closer to Him, He will advance many steps closer to us. The Quran speaks of this rapport between God and humans in [2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided. God listens to the call of every supplicant who calls. It behooves us to hearken (to listen, hear with intent to respond) to God and believe in Him so that He may guide us in the right path. God will never steer the sincere worshiper in the wrong direction.
Islam looks at human life as a whole. Hence, we are required to submit ourselves completely to God. There is no part time submission allowed (2:208, 4:65, 35:32 – others upheld it only part of the time). Take for example the words of Prophet Mohammad enshrined in the Quran [6:162] Say, “My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe”.
As a natural corollary to this unreserved submission, our activities should conform to the injunctions of the Supreme Being to whom we are submitting. Islam as a complete code of life requires that its adherents should mold their lives according to its precepts in every aspect – religious, spiritual, worldly, or mundane. Nothing then falls out of the scope of worship. We should not pay much regard to rituals performed mechanically without any communion with the Almighty. [2:171] The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
[107:4] And woe to those who observe the contact prayers (Salat)-[107:5] who are totally heedless of their prayers.
It follows therefore, that acts of worship performed with full devotion have a positive influence on one’s inner life, otherwise they are meaningless.
Cont'd on page 4