Since we are on the path to developing greater righteousness and a better level of faith, let us consider some important points and. explain some important concepts and constants, then – Allah willing – we will state together the importance of paying attention to them.
The purpose of life
We often read the saying of Allah The Almighty (which means): {And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.} [Quran 51:56] However, we do not reflect seriously on how much our reality is compatible with this great verse. Perhaps, if you are asked, “What is the purpose behind your existence in this life?” you would say immediately that you have been created to worship Allah The Almighty.
However, this superficial answer is not expected here, since we are not in a school or in an examination hall. What is, then, intended by the question? What is intended by the question is to sense the dimensions of the previous answer, “to worship Allah The Almighty”; that is to sense its requirements, its real meaning and the wide and practical aspect of the concept of worship. Do we think of the concept of worship as being restricted to performing prayers, giving Zakah (purifying alms), fasting and performing Hajj, or does worship have a wider concept?
There is nothing that is more eloquent and truthful than the Quran to answer this question. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims.”} [Quran 6:162-163]
Note that the combination of prayers with life: “my prayer”, and then “my life” are both dedicated to Allah The Almighty, the Lord of the worlds. When “prayer” crosses your mind at the mention of “worship”, do not exclude the entire life from worship, since it must also be dedicated to Allah The Almighty, The Lord of the worlds. Thus, prayer is for Allah The Almighty, life is for Allah The Almighty and even death is for Allah The Almighty.
Dear sister, life includes each activity that you undertake, even removing a harmful thing from the road, which is looked upon by most people as mere civilized behavior should also be made for the sake of Allah The Almighty. This means that it is an act of worship as established by an authentic Hadeeth (narration).
Even the emotions and sentiments are acts of worship that must be devoted to Allah The Almighty without associating partners with Him in that. Hence, love, hate, allegiance, animosity, fear, hope, wish, awe, submission and reliance, all these emotions of the heart are great acts of worship; not just prayers and fasting. Thus, all of them must be devoted sincerely to Allah The Almighty. Do not think that there is any complexity or difficulty involved in this concept or in practicing it. Nothing of the sort is ever involved. This only needs presence of the heart and intention, and by applying such a comprehensive concept, you will be worshipping Allah The Almighty in the real sense.
Any slave of Allah The Almighty, whether male or female, does not enjoy full liberation from every shackle unless he devotes these emotions of the heart to Allah The Almighty alone without associating partners with Him. As such, one must not combine opposite elements in his heart or conduct and, for example, claim that he loves Allah The Almighty, saying, “I love Allah The Almighty alone with no partners with Him. Also, I am sincere in my love for my Lord,” then, after making this decisive expression and confirmation of his love of Allah The Almighty, he commits sins openly. How is it that such a person commits sins, boasts about them, and insists on committing them? Where is, then, the sincerity of one’s love for Allah The Almighty?
The requirement of complete and sincere love is to obey the beloved. When you love with sincerity, what do you care about? Based on your love for Allah The Almighty, whom and what do you love? If there is still a place in your heart for the dissolute and disobedient people who boast about their evildoings, and thus, you still love singers and admire actors, then you must check what you have said, for it is unacceptable to combine in a dual array two opposite things.
This is because the person who loves with sincerity, does not combine in his love both the one whom he loves and things that provoke the wrath of his beloved one. The crucial factor, therefore, is not to love Allah The Almighty, since every person claims to love Allah The Almighty; however, the crucial factor is to love the deeds, forms and sayings that are loved by Allah The Almighty. Hence, Allah the Almighty tested men and women, with this great act of worship, Saying (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you.”} [Quran 3:31]
Thus, following the Messenger of Allah, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and submitting to the orders of Allah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, are proof of one’s love for Allah The Almighty. Also, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], “If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and Jihaad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.”} [Quran 9:24]
Real happiness is that of faith. This does not involve unreal, short-lived and deceptive happiness, as this kind of happiness is shared by most people, whether disobedient, immoral, or even disbelievers. They laugh heartily today, thinking that they are happy, but their crying in the future will painfully torment them. Real happiness, which is the happiness of faith, is felt when one is alone; with Allah The Almighty, you feel the happiness of privately supplicating Him and being comfortable with Him, Exalted is He in His Sublimity. With this sort of happiness, nothing spoils your comfort and relief, such as the different acts of disobedience.
Direct contact is established between your heart and everything that you love with all truthfulness and sincerity, and direct contact between your heart and Allah The Almighty. This is the sort of happiness that extends through this short life to the everlasting happiness of the next. You always enjoy it wherever you are and at all times; in times of well-being and hardship, richness and poverty, and when you are healthy or sick. It is the joy that you find in life, at the time of death when you depart from life, after death when you are alone in the grave and after resurrection on the Day of Reckoning. Allah The Almighty Says reassuringly (what means): {Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, He will be judged with an easy account and return to his people in happiness.} [Quran 84:7-9]
This is the joy and happiness that cannot be achieved unless all acts of worship are devoted solely to Allah The Almighty. The good life, which is the life of tranquility, peace of mind and clarity of consciousness cannot be maintained unless all feelings and deeds are dedicated to Allah The Almighty, who Says (what means): {Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.} [Quran 16:97] This is actually a good life in the world and a better one in the Hereafter.
Can you imagine the wide scope of worship as you answer the question of the purpose of existence? If you have not imagined this wide scope, then you are required to fill this gap and attain a comprehensive, practical and tangible concept of worship. Sister, check to which extent your conduct is compatible with whatever feelings you have in your heart toward the acts of worship, so that Allah The Almighty may help you. However, if your answer, is that you have imagined this concept of worship when you answered the question, then all perfect praise is due to Allah The Almighty.