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The Meaning of Worship |
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by Shaykh
’Abdur-Rahmân Ibn Hasan (d.1258H) |
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The Meaning of Worship The
statement of Allâh - the Most High - : “I
did not create the Jinn, nor mankind, except to worship Me.” [Sûratudh-Dhâriyât
51:56] Shaykhul-Islâm
Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) rahimahullâh
- said: “Worship
(al-’Ibâdah) is obedience to
Allâh by following that which He ordered upon the tongues of His
Messengers.” He also said,
“Worship (al-’Ibâdah) is a
comprehensive term covering everything that Allâh loves and is pleased
with - whether saying, or actions, outward and inward.” [2] Ibnul-Qayyim
(d.751H) - rahimahullâh -
said: “Worship
revolves around fifteen principles. Whosoever
completes them has completed the stages of ’ubûdiyyah
(servitude to Allâh). The
explanation of this is that ’ibâdah
is divided between the heart, the tongue, and the limbs.
And that for each one of these three come five types of rulings,
covering all actions: wâjib
(obligatory), mustahabb
(recommended), harâm
(prohibited), makrûh
(disliked), and mubâh
(permissible).” [3] Imâm
al-Qurtubî (d.671H) - rahimahullâh
- said: “The
root of ’ibâdah is humility
and submissiveness. The
various duties that have been prescribed upon the people are called ’ibâdât
(acts of worship), since what is required is that these acts of worship
must be done with humility and submissiveness to Allâh - the Most
High.” [4] Ibn
Kathîr (d.774H) - rahimahullâh
- said: “And
’ibâdah is obedience to
Allâh by acting upon what He commands, and abandoning what He forbids;
and this is the reality and essence of Islâm.
And the meaning of Islâm is: istislâm
(submission and surrender) to Allâh - the Most High - along with the
utmost compliance, humility, and submissiveness to Him.” He
also said whilst explaining the above âyah: “Indeed
Allâh - the Most High - created the creation so that they could worship
Him alone, without associating any partner with Him.
Whoever obeys Him will be completely rewarded, whereas whoever
disobeys Him would be punished with a severe punishment.
And He has informed that He is neither dependant, nor does He have
any need for them. Rather, it
is they who are in dire need of Him, in every condition and circumstance,
since He is the One who created, sustains, and provides for them.” [5] |
The Meaning of Tâghût The
statement of Allâh - the Most High - : “And
to every nation We sent Messengers, ordering them that they should worship
Allâh alone, obey Him, and make their worship purely for Him; and that
they should avoid at-Tâghût.” [Sûratun-Nahl 16:36] And
at-tâghût is from the word at-tughyân,
which means: going beyond the limits. ’Umar
Ibnul-Khattâb radiallâhu ’anhu
said: Jâbir
radiallâhu ’anhu said: Imâm
Mâlik (d.179H) - rahimahullâh -
said: So
this is what has been mentioned by certain people.
However, Imâm Ibnul-Qayyim - rahimahullâhu
ta’âlâ - has given a very comprehensive definition, so he said,
“The tâghût is all that
which causes the person to exceed the limits with regards to that which is
worshipped, followed, or obeyed.
So the tâghût in any
nation is whosoever turns to other than Allâh and His Messenger for
matters of judgement; or is pleased to be worshipped besides Allâh; or is
followed without a clear proof from Allâh; or is obeyed in that which is
known to be disobedience to Allâh.” [9] References 1.
Fathul-Majîd li-Sharh Kitâbit-Tawhîd (1/84-90) |
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