الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينة ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين 

This is the 4^th talk on the topic entitled:” Your Life in Light of Eternity”, as a reminder, this topic addresses the following four questions

:

1. What is the purpose of our lives on earth?
2. What is the nature of this life on earth?
3. What is the requirement to fulfill this purpose?
4. What are the traits and qualities that we must possess to fulfill these requirements?

We addressed the first two questions and last week we started addressing the third question and today is a continuation of the answer to this third question.    

As reminder, the answer to the first question, “What is the purpose of our lives on earth?”, was to prepare us for eternity when we return to Allah who will assess whether we are worthily of being in His company in Paradise forever or He will send us to another place as punishment for our failure.

The answer to the second question, “What is the nature of this life on earth?” was that our life on earth is a temporary assignment, it is a test, and it is a trust.

The answer to the third question “What is the requirement to fulfill this purpose? was worship and this was derived from Surah A-Zariat (51) in which Allah says:

وَمَا خَلَقۡتُ ٱلۡجِنَّ وَٱلۡإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُونِ (٥٦)

And I (Allah) did not create the jinn and humans except that they “Ya’abudoun” worship Me.” (Al-Zariat 51:56).  

Last week discussion focused on addressing the difference between the Arabic term Ibadah and the English term worship and I said that although the word worship does not fully reflect the full meaning of the word “Ibadah” (i.e., our relationship with Allah) I will be using the word worship for simplicity. Then we defined worship as total obedience to Allah’s commands motivated by our love and gratitude to Him and by our trust in Him that all His commands are intended for our benefits.  Therefore, we can define Worship as any act that demonstrate four elements: 1) Obedience, 2) Love, 3) Gratitude, and 4) Trust.  Inshallah, today, I plan to elaborate on obedience 

1. Obedience of Allah:

The essence of worship is obedience because it affirms the fundamental relationship between us as slaves and Allah as the sole Master.  While Allah, Our Master, does not gain any benefit from anything we do including our obedience to His commands, He is not interested in stale forms of obedience whether they are insincere praise, or mechanical rituals.  He is also not interested in half-hearted commitment and partial obedience.  Allah gave us emotions, so we could perform our acts of obedience with deep and genuine feelings, not faked ones.   Full obedience to Allah means that you should fulfill all His commands whole heartedly, joyfully and with enthusiasm.  Allah condemns those who fulfill commands without enthusiasm and considers them as the hypocrites, as He said:

وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى

“And when they stand for prayers, they stand unenthusiastically.” (Al-Nisaa 4:142)

Our understanding of obedience extends far beyond the prescribed rituals (i.e., prayers, fasting, reading the Quran, and Hajj).   These rituals are important to purify our soul to help us withstand all temptations and thus perfect all our acts of worship in accordance with Allah’s commands. The concept that worship covers all aspects of the person’s life is emphasized with the declaration that Allah commanded us to say:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

“Say: “My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death, are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Al-Anaam 6:162)

Therefore, believers are in a state of obedience to Allah all the time.   However, full obedience to Allah requires full surrender to Him. Surrender means that you obey Allah’s command, even if you do not understand the wisdom behind it.  When you surrender to Allah, you will not surrender to anyone or anything else; nothing is more powerful and liberating than surrendering your life to Allah. 

However, surrendering to Allah is not passive resignation, fatalism, or an excuse for laziness; it is not accepting the status quo.  Surrendering does not mean giving-up rational thinking, Allah does not want you to waste the mind He gave you to serve Him. Surrendering is not repressing and stifling your personality.

The Quran gives us many examples of the obedience that Allah expects and commends.  The most compelling are those of Prophet Ibrahim’.  He obeyed Allah’s command to leave his infant and only son, Ismael, with his wife, Hajar, alone in the arid desert of Mecca. Then, later when Ismael grew up and became an impressive youth, Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to sacrifice him.  He proceeded with the process of sacrificing him.  Also, the reaction of the young son, Ishmael, is another example of obedience. He accepted Allah’s commands when he was informed by his father of it. The scene is presented to us by Allah in the following verse:

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ مَعَهُ السَّعْيَ قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي أَرَى فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِّي أَذْبَحُكَ فَانْظُرْ مَاذَا تَرَى قَالَ يَا أَبَتِ افْعَلْ مَا تُؤْمَرُ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مِنَ َالصَّابِرِين

“Then, when (the son, Ismael) reached the age at which he could work with him, he (Ibrahim) said: “O my son! I have seen in my sleep that I am slaughtering you, consider it, what is your opinion?” (The son) said: “O my father! do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah wills, one of those who are patient.” (Al-Safat 37:102)

Full obedience means that you should do everything exactly as Allah has commanded, exactly the way He described it and at the exact time He specified without delays or procrastination.  Full obedience means that you obey without objections or reservations and without asking for clarification.  Allah does not owe us any explanation.  Understanding can wait, but obedience cannot.  Allah Says:

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُبِينًا

“It is not befitting for a Believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have a choice about the matter; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has gone astray falling into a clear error.” (Al-Ahzab 33:36)

فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“By your Lord, they will not believe, until they make you the judge in all the disputes between them and then find no discomfort in their souls against what you have decided and surrender to it in total submission.” (Al-Nisaa 4:65)

Partial obedience by cherry picking the commands to obey and ignoring others is not full obedience and Allah gives very serious warning to those who engage in this behavior as He says:

أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَى أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

“Do you believe in part of the scripture and disbelieve in others?  The reward for those who do so is shame in this life and the most grievous doom in the hereafter. For Allah is not unaware of what you do” (Al-Baqara 2:85).

Obedience to Allah’s commands go far beyond performing rituals, it includes all acts of charity and business dealings as well as our responses to difficulties and challenges Allah says:   

لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East or the West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets. And to spend of your wealth in spite of love for it to your kin, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves. And to be steadfast in prayer and give the Zakat (charity).  And to fulfill the contracts that they have made. And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, and they are the righteous”. (Al-Baqara 2:177)

A critical aspect of obedience is to glorify Allah and declare His praise.  The Arabic term for this command is Tasbeeh and this term came in the Quran over 80 times. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ذِكۡرً۬ا كَثِيرً۬ا (٤١) وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكۡرَةً۬ وَأَصِيلاً (٤٢)

“O you who believe, Remember Allah with much remembrance; (41) And glorify Him morning and evening.” (Al-Azab 33:41-42)

فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَكُنْ مِنَ السَّاجِدِينَ وَاعْبُدْ رَبَّكَ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَكَ الْيَقِينُ

“So, glorify the praises of your Lord and be among those who prostrate themselves (before Him). (98)  And worship your Lord until comes to you the certainty (death).“ (Al-Hajr 15:98-99)

To be able to truly fulfill this command and glorify Allah with certainty and convection, you need to study the creations of Allah, and this is something Allah emphasized in many verses on the Quran.  Therefore, the study all forms of science is a key element of obedience to Allah.  Allah does not only praise those who study His creations but He also attributes disbelief to not appreciating the creation of Allah.  Allah says:

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ ڪَانَتَا رَتۡقً۬ا فَفَتَقۡنَـٰهُمَا‌ۖ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ حَىٍّ‌ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٣٠) وَجَعَلۡنَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٲسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمۡ وَجَعَلۡنَا فِيہَا فِجَاجً۬ا سُبُلاً۬ لَّعَلَّهُمۡ يَہۡتَدُونَ (٣١)

“Did the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We parted them and We made from water every living thing. Would they still not believe?” (Al-Anbiya 21:30)

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجۡرِى فِى ٱلۡبَحۡرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ۬ فَأَحۡيَا بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِہَا وَبَثَّ فِيہَا مِن ڪُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ۬ وَتَصۡرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلۡمُسَخَّرِ بَيۡنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡقِلُونَ (١٦٤)

“Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail in the sea carrying what benefits mankind, and in the water Allah sends down from the sky reviving with it the earth after it was dead; and in every creations He has scattered on it (earth), and in the movements of the winds and the cloud subjected for service between heaven and earth, are signs for those who have understanding. ” (Al-Baqara 2:164)

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّہَارِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ (١٩٠)

Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day are signs for those who have intellect. (Al-Emran 3:190)

Studying the universe and all the creations in it is not only required for us to have an Awe of Allah but also to take advantage of these creations to fulfill our role in earth as Allah’s vicegerent.  Another important element of glorifying Allah is making people in harmony with all other creations that glorify Allah all the time, though we don’t understand their language.  Allah says:

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

“The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; but you do not understand how they declare His glory! Surely, He is Oft Forbearing, Most Forgiving! “(Al-Isra 17:44)

.

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“Whatever is in the heavens and on Earth, declares the Praises and Glory of Allah: for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (Al-Hadeed 57:1; Al-Hashir 59:1; Al-Saaf 61:1)

When we discussed the nature of this life, we said that this life a trust.  Therefore, a key element of demonstrating our obedience to Allah involves the effective use of our unique talents and abilities.   Therefore, your perfection of any profession that you are engaged in that creates value for mankind is an act of worship because it is a fulfillment of the trust that Allah granted to you.   The prophet (PBUH) said:

إن الله يحب إذا عمل أحدكم عملا أن يتقنه. )أخرجه أبو يعلى والطبراني، عن عائشة رضي الله عنها(

 “Allah loves that when one of you does something to perfect it.”

The same point is emphasized by the Prophet (PBUH) when he was asked about Ihsan which is perfection and excellence, He (PBUH) said:

الإحسان أن تعبد الله كأنك تراه، فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك

“Ihsan (perfection/excellence) is to worship Allah as if you see Him and if you don’t see Him, you should know that He sees you.”

So, the perfection of any work you do that is beneficial to mankind is an act of obedience to Allah.  The question that may be raised is there a preferred profession than others.  Scholars differed regarding which of the three professional fields: agricultural, industrial, and commercial, is more valuable in the sight of Allah. 

Those who claimed that professions related to agriculture are the most valued supported their claim by quoting the Prophet’s saying:

ما من مسلم يغرس غرسا أو يزرع زرعا فيأكل منه طير أو إنسان أو بهيمة إلا كان له به صدقة

“No Muslim will ever plant a tree or cultivate a crop that feed a man, a bird or an animal except it will be recorded for him as a charity.”

Those who proposed the superiority of professions related to industry supported their claim by quoting the Prophet’s hadeeth:

“ما أكل أحد طعاما قط خيرا من أن يأكل من عمل يده، وإن نبي الله داود عليه السلام كان يأكل من عمل يده

“The best food one can eat is the one paid for by the person’s labor; Prophet David used to eat from what his hands earned.” (We know that Prophet David was a steel maker.)

Those who claimed that the most valuable professions in the sight of Allah are those related to commerce supported their claim by the Prophet’s hadeeth:

التاجر الصدوق يحشر مع النبيين والصديقين والشهداء

“The honest merchant will be resurrected with the Prophets, the truly faithful and the martyrs.”

Because of these and other quotes from the Prophet’s sayings, scholars have concluded that there is no absolute preference because all the professions are valued by Allah and the preference will be based on the societal needs and which ones address existing shortage.

It is only through obedience that you will be demonstrating your true love pf Allah and you will be securing Allah’s blessings and love, as He said:

وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُولَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا

“Those who obey Allah, and the Messenger are with those whom Allah has blessed, namely the Prophets, the truly faithful, the martyrs and the righteous, and how excellent they are as companions.” (Al-Nisa 4:69)

قُلۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٣١) قُلۡ أَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ‌ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوۡاْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ (٣٢)

“Say: “If you really love Allah then follow me and Allah will love you and forgive for you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (31) Say: “Obey Allah and the Messenger.  But if they turn away, then Allah does not like the disbelievers” (Al-Emran 3: 31-32)

I’ll stop here, insha’Allah, next time I will discuss love, gratitude and trust as elements of worship and then move to discuss the quality metrics for worship and barriers to proper worship.

DUA