In a world where material wealth and health often fail to bring true contentment, the quest for peace of mind and heart remains a universal need. The Glorious Qur’an declares that we were created to worship Allah سبحانه و تعالى alone, offering a path to tranquility through devotion. By worshipping Allah in the way He prescribed, following the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ we find balance, healing, and a lasting peace that fills the void no worldly gain can satisfy.
The Essence of Worship in Islam
Worshipping Allah سبحانه و تعالى (may He be glorified and exalted), in Islam is woven into the daily life of a Muslim which enable him/her to cultivate his/her relationship with Allah سبحانه و تعالى. It is a broad term that includes all actions, beliefs, and statements that are pleasing to Allah and in obedience to His will. It is an active part of daily life that can take place anywhere, and is not confined to a holy place. The purpose for which we were created is to worship Allah alone with no partner or any associates. Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ.
“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”
[Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Ayah 56]
Following the Prophet’s Path
Allah has not left us to choose our own way of worship, rather He سبحانه و تعالى has sent His Messenger ﷺ and revealed the Glorious Qur’an, to show us the way and guide us with everything in this life and to attain a better place in the Hereafter . As such, there is nothing in terms of worship, goodness and guidance that Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) loves, but it has been explained by His Messenger ﷺ. Not a single Muslim disputes that Muhammad ﷺ is the best and most pious of mankind, the one who worshipped Allah and turned to Him the most at every instance of his life. Hence, the one who is truly guided is the one who follows his path and walks in his footsteps. Adhering to the path of the Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ is not something that is optional, but rather it is an obligation that Allah سبحانه و تعالى has enjoined upon His slaves, as He (may He be glorified and exalted) says in the Glorious Qur’an:
وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ.
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it). And fear Allah; verily, Allah is Severe in punishment”.
[Surah Al-Hashr, Ayah 7]
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ
وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۭا مُّبِينًۭا
“It is not for a believing man or woman—when Allah and His Messenger decree a matter—to have any other choice in that matter. Indeed, whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone (far) astray.”
[Surah Al-Ahzaab, Ayah 36]
Allah سبحانه و تعالى also says,
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.”
[Surah Al-Ahzaab, Ayah 21]
The Danger of Innovation in Worship
The Prophet ﷺ stated that every innovated kind of worship would be rejected and thrown back at the one who does it, no matter what it is.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ
“Whoever innovates into this matter (Islam) of ours that which does not belong to it, it will be rejected.”
(Saheeh Al Bukhari, Kitaab al Islaah, Hadith 2697)
No deed will be accepted and will be fruitful, unless it is done sincerely for the sake of Allah سبحانه و تعالى and in accordance with the traditions (Sunnah) of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. This is what is meant by the words of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted):
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ
“He is the One Who created death and life in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, All-Forgiving.”
[Surah Al-Mulk, Ayah 2]
In accordance to this, Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyyaad said: “If a deed is not sincere and not correct, it will not be accepted. If it is correct but is not sincere, it will not be accepted unless it is both sincere and correct. ‘Sincere’, means that it is done for the sake of Allah سبحانه و تعالى and ‘Correct’, means that it is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.”
Therefore, whoever wants to attain the Pleasure and Rida (“approval” or “perfect contentment with Allah’s will or decree”) of Allah, he has to adhere to the Sunnah) of His Messenger ﷺ. All paths to Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) are blocked and useless, except one: the path of His Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ was compassionate towards his Ummah and cared deeply for them. He did not leave anything good without elucidating it to them. Therefore, whosoever invents an act of worship, dhikr or wird and claims that it is good, is accusing the Prophet ﷺ whether he realizes it or not, of not conveying the religion as Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) commanded him to do, and inturn this person inculpates the Creator for not perfecting this religion for us.
For this reason, Imam Maalik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Whoever introduces any innovation into Islam claiming that it is good is implying that Muhammad ﷺ betrayed the message entrusted to him, because Allah سبحانه و تعالى says:
ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا
“This day, I have perfected your religion/faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”
[Surah Al-Maida, Ayah 3]
Thus, whatever was not part of the religion of Islam at that point should never be part of the religion of Islam today.
The Sahaabah, Taabi’een and Imams issued many warnings against innovation.
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan رضي الله عنه said:
“Every act of worship which the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do, do not do it.”
(Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah of Imaam Al Laalikaa’ee)
Ibn Mas’ood رضي الله عنه said:
“Follow and do not innovate, for the religion is complete. Adhere to the old way (i.e., the way of the Prophet ﷺ and the Sahaabah.”
(Sharh Usool I’tiqaad Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah of Imaam Al Laalikaa’ee)
May Allah protect us all and help us all to avoid innovation and its people.
Worship as a Source of Balance and Healing
Thus my dear brothers and sisters, worshipping Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) in the rightful way is the only thing that can bring about balance in our chaotic lives and a sense of healing to our distressed heart. But we must also remember that Allah is in no need for our worship but rather, we are the ones who are in need for His mercy and grace. Healing indeed comes from Allah سبحانه و تعالى and the rightful way of worship acts as an instrument for the process of healing, giving us hope, confidence, contentment and the courage to fight our spiritual and emotional distress.
Allah سبحانه و تعالى informs us about the generous words of Prophet Ibraheem (peace be upon him)
وَإِذَا مَرِضْتُ فَهُوَ يَشْفِينِ
“And He (alone) heals me when I am sick.”
[Surah Al-Shu’ara, Ayah 80]
During worship the soul dwells in tranquility and fulfills the purpose it was created for:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“I have not created the jinn and men except for this, that they worship me alone.”
[Surah Al-Dhariyat, Ayah 56
And regarding worshipping Allah alone, He (may He be glorified and exalted) says:
إِنَّنِىٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدْنِى وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكْرِىٓ
“It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god (worthy of worship) except Me. So, worship Me (alone), and establish prayer for My remembrance.”
[Surah Al-Taha, Ayah 14]
The Purpose of Existence and Its Rewards
One of the key words in the above verse is “alone”, meaning that we consider and accept Him (may He be glorified and exalted) as the most important facet of our lives and that we judge ourselves and contemplate the reason for our existence and everything surrounding us in accordance with the criterion that He سبحانه و تعالى has revealed and taught. Whenever we deviate and fail to fulfill this sole core purpose, we tend to find our hearts lost, confused and wallowing in pain, sadness and sin.
For example, a pen has been created and designed to write and that is its sole purpose; no matter how pretty looking or expensive it is, it has no value and no practical use if it stops working. Putting it aside or getting rid of it completely is what we humans do with such a useless pen. But Allah’s patience and His mercy for us is immeasurable and expansive to an extent that He has given us time until the epilogue of our lives to try to fulfill that purpose and thus prove our worth and gain entry into Jannah.
“Worshipping Allah سبحانه و تعالى” encompasses obeying His commands, following the way that He taught us through the examples of His Prophets, seeking His help, believing in Him, relying on Him, trusting Him and His decisions and decree. This worship actually benefits, nurtures, and strengthens our souls, bodies and hearts and is the most essential nutriment for our peaceful survival. Without this worship, we tend to foist ourselves with traps, temptations, calamities, sadness, weakness, lack of contentment, emptiness, anxiety, depression, and eventually the sense of failure.
Whenever we feel failure, hardships or emptiness looming over heads, we should ask ourselves whether we are fulfilling our true purpose in life, and what sins or distractions have we knowingly or unknowingly fallen into. By annihilating the things that displeases Allah سبحانه و تعالى, striving to please Him, attaining His approval (ridah), and aiming to enter the paradise (Jannah), we will be able to set our footsteps back on track once again; on the straight path, In sha Allah. Worshipping Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) is a solace to those who find it difficult during times of distress and sadness. But there are numerous great blessings to be gained if one does it. These blessings can only be fully attained through worshipping Allah in the rightful way, and are essential for every human who wishes to live a fulfilling and a happy life. Worship (Ibaadah) is the most crucial aspect to attain a balanced life and healing to a distressed heart.
Conclusion
Worshipping Allah سبحانه و تعالى in accordance with the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ is more than a duty, it is the lifeline that restores balance and heals the heart. By fulfilling our purpose of creation, we find solace, strength, and a peace that transcends worldly turmoil, rooted in His mercy and guidance.
May Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) guide us to worship Him sincerely and correctly, granting us His approval and the tranquility of a heart aligned with His will. Let us strive to walk the path of His Prophet ﷺ, for in it lies our salvation and serenity.
