Worship in Islam

Since the beginning of human history, worship has played a central role in people’s lives.
Devotion to a higher being continues to tie humanity together despite differences in customs
and a variety of beliefs. We often associate worship with specific religious acts performed to a
deity, distinguishing it from other facets of one’s life. However, the concept of worship in Islam
is all-encompassing and incorporates ritual worship as well as common daily tasks. This
pamphlet discusses the balance Islam encourages between our spiritual and worldly endeavors,
while also explaining core rites Muslims perform to worship God.

In Islam, worship is the very purpose of our existence. God declares in the Quran, the holy book
of Islam, “I did not create … mankind except to worship Me” (51:56). Muslims worship God,
the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, out of love and submission. They believe that He is
the One God (Allah in Arabic) who is completely unique and only He deserves to be worshipped

Foundations of Worship

Certain criteria determine whether an act can be considered worship. For instance, Islam
teaches that the merit of a person’s action depends on the intention. Muslims believe that God
looks at people’s hearts, not just their physical deeds. For an action to be regarded as worship,
it must be performed with the pure intention of pleasing God. Therefore, the concept of
worship in Islam encourages people to connect with God in every action they take,
strengthening their bond with their Creator. In doing so, a person gains a sense of true peace
that comes with carrying out their purpose in life.

In addition to purifying one’s intention, a person’s deeds must also be consistent with divine
guidance. While God has inspired an intuitive moral sense in every individual, people do not
always act in a just and ethical manner. In fact, our ability to judge between right and wrong
can often be muddled by external influences, outward appearances or ulterior motives. Hence,
having a moral compass alone does not enable one to internalize righteousness or bring one
closer to God .

In order to guide humans to His worship and to truly differentiate between good and evil, God
sent prophets as teachers and role models. He also revealed holy scriptures which provide us
with knowledge directly from God and serve as manuals for virtuous living. The combination of
prophetic examples and divine scriptures reinforces our moral inclinations and equips us with
the knowledge to discern between right and wrong. They also provide us with the criterion
which enables us to assess our own motives and deeds. Above all, they teach us how to worship
God and to lead a life that pleases Him.

Islam is the culmination of God’s message since the time of Adam. The God of Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the other prophets, is the same God who sent Muhammadp as
His final messenger to humankind and revealed the Quran, God’s last scripture, to him. The
Quran, the only divine book to remain intact in its original text, upholds the pure teachings of
previous revelations. It is a testament to the continuity of God’s message from the beginning
of human history, guiding people to achieve their fundamental purpose in life.

The guidance of the Quran and the example of Prophet Muhammad p, whose teachings have
been meticulously preserved, form the basis of worship in Islam. It must be noted here that
while Muslims esteem all of the prophets sent by God, including Jesus and Muhammad p, they
do not worship any of them. In fact, worshipping any one besides the One God is strictly
prohibited in Islam. Rather, Muslims invoke God to send blessings upon all the messengers and
prophets.

Rites of Worship
Indeed, every single aspect of a person’s life can fit under the umbrella of worship in Islam, so
long as the person’s intention is to please God and the action is consistent with the Quran and
prophetic example. At the same time, certain core rituals form the basis of a Muslim’s worship
of God.

Quran

The Quran, which literally means the ‘oft-repeated,’ is, according to Muslim belief, the final
revelation of God to humanity. It provides guidance in all areas of life. The recitation, study and
memorization of Quran form a central facet of worship for Muslims. The Quran is also recited
during every prayer. Although it is widely read in its original Arabic, various translations in
numerous languages are also available.

Prayer

Islam enjoins Muslims to offer five prayers throughout the day at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon,
sunset and night. Prayer enables Muslims to physically and mentally take a break from their
worldly activities to connect with God several times a day. The prayers consist of praising God
while standing, bowing and prostrating, maintaining the practice of Muhammad, Jesus, Moses
and all the other prophets, peace be upon them all. On Fridays, Muslims attend a special
congregational noon prayer, complete with a brief sermon.

Mosques

The house of worship in Islam is called a mosque. Many Muslims congregate at mosques for
prayer while others choose to pray at home, work or wherever they may be. While the primary
use of a mosque is prayer, it also serves as a community center with people gathering to listen
to lectures, attend study groups or enjoy communal dinners. Mosques are especially active on
Fridays for the congregational noon prayer and during Ramadan for the nightly prayers.

Ramadan

Muslims fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, by refraining from
eating, drinking and sexual interaction from dawn to sunset. Fasting instills self-restraint,
provides spiritual cleansing and strengthens one’s willpower. While fasting, Muslims strive to
increase charitable acts and control bad habits such as foul language, gossip and anger.

Charity
Muslims must give 2.5% of their annual savings to help the poor, the needy and the oppressed.
This act of devotion acknowledges that all wealth comes from God and purifies the soul from
material greed. In addition, Islam encourages voluntary acts of charity, be they monetary or
physical. A famous prophetic tradition states, ‘Smiling is charity.’

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca must be performed by every Muslim once in their life if they are
physically and financially able. It symbolizes the unity of humankind as Muslims from every
race, nationality and social status assemble together in equality to worship God, following the
traditions of Abraham.

Holy Days

The two Eid festivals mark important holy days for Muslims. Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the
completion of Ramadan while Eid-al-Adha falls during the days of Hajj. Both occasions begin
with a congregational prayer and a sermon; these are followed by festive meals, gift-giving and
socializing.

Supplication

Muslims supplicate to and address God directly for their needs and desires anytime and
anywhere. This direct relationship is an essential element of worship in Islam. Whether asking
for guidance, seeking solace or beseeching God for forgiveness, Muslims reach out to God at
any time, without an intermediary. The practice of confession to another being does not exist in
Islam.

Worship: A Holistic View

Worshiping God adds meaning to our lives and constantly renews our purpose. In the good
times, we are thankful for His blessings, and in challenging circumstances, we trust God will see
us through. Therefore, worship strengthens our relationship with the Creator – instilling a sense
of gratefulness for the countless favors we enjoy as His creation as well as enabling us to
develop values such as patience, perseverance and resilience when faced with trials and
tragedies. As a result, it helps us achieve humility, recognizing God as the Originator and
Sustainer of the universe and surrendering to Him in worship.

Muslims consider their earthly existence as temporary and prepare for the real life ahead, the
eternal life of the hereafter. As God clearly states in the Quran, He “created death and life to
test you [as to] which of you is best in deed” (67:2). Salvation in Islam is connected with doing
good deeds and refraining from bad ones. One who excels in goodness will be rewarded
generously, but one whose evils outweigh his virtues will be punished. The fear of
accountability and hope for God’s mercy in the afterlife inspires Muslims to be mindful of
God in their daily lives, encouraging them to more fully worship Him.

Indeed, Islam enjoins Muslims to lead balanced lives in this world while striving for success in
the hereafter by living righteously. Therefore, the concept of worship in Islam encompasses not
only the outward religious duties, but also the development of a strong moral character, good
relations with people, and striving for just and harmonious societies.

"Worship is an all inclusive term for all that God loves of external and internal sayings and
actions of a person."

In other words, worship is everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. This, of course,
includes rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of
one's fellow human-beings. Islam looks at the individual as a whole. He is required to submit
himself completely to Allah, as the Quran instructed the Prophet Muhammad to do:

"Say (O Muhammad) my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death belong to Allah; He has no
partner and I am ordered to be among those who submit, i.e.; Muslims." (6:162, 163)

The natural result of this submission is that all one's activities should conform to the
instructions of the one to whom the person is submitting. Islam, being a way of life, requires
that its followers model their life according to its teachings in every aspect, religious or other
wise. This might sound strange to some people who think of religion as a personal relation
between the individual and God, having no impact on one's activities outside rituals. As a
matter of fact Islam does not think much of mere rituals when they are performed mechanically
and have no influence on one's inner life. The Quran addresses the believers and their
neighbors from among the People of the Book who were arguing with them about the change
of the direction of Qibla in the following verse:

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward the East or the West, but righteous is
he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Prophets, and
gives his beloved money to his relatives and the orphans and the needy and for the
ransoming of captives and who observes prayer and pays the poor-due; and those who fulfill
their promises when they have made one, and the patient in poverty and affliction and the
steadfast in time of war; it is those who have proved truthful and it is those who are the God-
fearing." (2:177)

The deeds in the above verse are the deeds of righteousness and they are only a part of
worship. The Prophet told us about faith, which is the basis of worship, that it "is made up of
sixty and some branches; the highest of which is the belief in the Oneness of Allah, i.e., there is
no God but Allah and the lowest in the scale of worship is removing obstacles and dirt from
people's way." Decent work is considered in Islam a type of worship. The Prophet said:

"Whoever finds himself at the nightfall tired of his work, God will forgive his sins."

Seeking knowledge is one of the highest types of worship. The Prophet told his companions
that "seeking knowledge is a (religious) duty on every Muslim." In another saying he said:

"Seeking knowledge for one hour is better than praying for seventy years."
 

Social courtesy and cooperation are part of worship when done for the sake of Allah as the
Prophet told us:

"Receiving your friend with a smile is a type of charity, helping a person to load his animal is a
charity and putting some water in your neighbor's bucket is a charity."
 

It is worth noting that even performing one's duties is considered a sort of worship. The
Prophet told us that whatever one spends for his family is a type of charity; he will be rewarded
for it if he acquires it through legal means. Kindness to members of one's family is an act of
worship as when one puts a piece of food in his spouse's mouth. Not only this but even the acts
we enjoy doing very much, when they are performed according to the instructions of the
Prophet, are considered as acts of worship. The Prophet told his companions that they will be
rewarded even for having sexual intercourse with their wives. The companions were astonished
and asked: "How are we going to be rewarded for doing something we enjoy very much?" The
Prophet asked them: "Suppose you satisfy your desires illegally; don't you think that you will be
punished for that?" They replied, "Yes." "So," he said, "by satisfying it legally with your wives
you are rewarded for it." This means they are acts of worship. Thus Islam does not consider sex
a dirty thing that one should avoid. It is dirty and sinful only when it is satisfied outside marital
life.

    It is clear, from the previous discussion that the concept of worship in Islam is a
comprehensive concept that includes all the positive activities of the individual. This of course is
in agreement with the all inclusive nature of Islam as a way of life. It regulates human life on all
levels: individual, social, economic, political and spiritual. That is why Islam provides guidance
to the smallest details of one's life on all these levels. Thus following these details is following
Islamic instructions in that specific area. It is a very encouraging element when one realizes that
all his activities are considered by God as acts of worship. This should lead the individual to seek
Allah's pleasure in his actions and always try to do them in the best possible manner whether
he is watched by his superiors or he is alone. There is always the permanent supervisor, who
knows everything, namely, Allah
Worship in Islam is as broad as life itself. It could be removing an obstacle from the road,
helping someone in need, being good to your family, doing an honest day’s work, sharing food
with your neighbor, visiting a sick person, attending a funeral and so on. Of course, the above-
mentioned criteria apply here as well: to be considered worship, the act must be done
earnestly to please God and should be consistent with divine guidance.

Therefore, Islam blurs the line between ‘religious’ and ‘worldly,’ because practically any action
can become spiritual in nature and is rewarded by God – whether it is seeking knowledge or
maintaining good neighborly ties. When someone keeps this comprehensive approach in mind,
they naturally steer clear of cheating, lying and exploiting others. Instead, they strive to be
honest, compassionate and tolerant in their dealings.

When it comes to worship, Muslims draw inspiration from the life of Muhammadp, the final
messenger of God. He was the quintessential human being who successfully fused his
‘worldly’ and ‘religious’ acts into a seamless whole. His entire being was focused on
submission to God, whether he was with his family or in the mosque. Muslims endeavor to
follow his example and stay mindful of God throughout their day.

In the end, worship in Islam extends to all aspects of life, transforming mundane tasks into
spiritual ones. Muslims balance their religious duties and everyday responsibilities, aware of
their accountability to God in the hereafter. When people fulfill their true purpose of
worshiping God, it enables them to attain a profound sense of peace that results from
submitting to the Creator, the only One worthy of worship.

“… Truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace.” (Quran, 13:28)

Note: The subscript p next to Prophet Muhammadp represents the invocation Muslims say with
his name: May God’s peace and blessings be upon him.

The concept of worship in Islam is comprehensive. It regulates the human life on all levels: the
individual,the social, the economic, the political and the spiritual. All activities are considered by
God as acts of worship, if done in conformance to His guidance.

The concept of worship in Islam is misunderstood by many people including some Muslims.
Worship is commonly taken to mean performing ritualistic acts such as prayers, fasting, charity,
etc.This limited understanding of worship is only one part of the meaning of worship in Islam.
The traditional definition of worship in Islam is a comprehensive definition that includes almost
everything in any individual's activities. The definition goes something like this:

“Worship is an all inclusive term for all that God loves of external and internal sayings and
actions of a person.”
In other words, worship is everything one says or does for the pleasure of Allah. This of course,
includes rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and personal contributions to the welfare of
society. Islam looks at the individual as a whole. One is required to submit oneself completely
to Allah, as the Qur'an instructed the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to do: Say:

“Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the
Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of
those who bow to His will.” [Al-Qur'an 6:162-163]

The natural result of this submission is that all one's activities should conform to the
instructions of the One God to whom the person is submitting. Islam being a complete way of
life requires that its followers model every aspect of their life according to its teaching, religious
or otherwise. This might sound strange to some people who think of religion as a personal
relation between the individual and God, having no impact on one's daily activities. As a matter
of fact, Islam does not think much of mere rituals when they are performed mechanically and
have no influence on one's inner self.

Thus Islam does not consider the sexual urge as inherently dirty or sinful. It is dirty and sinful
only when it is satisfied outside the marital union of man and wife. The Prophet (pbuh) told his
companions that they would be rewarded even for having sexual intercourse with their
wives.The companions were astonished and asked:

“How are we going to be rewarded for doing something we enjoy very much?”

The Prophet (pbuh) asked them: “suppose you satisfy your desires illegally, don't you think that
you would be punished for that?”They replied, “Yes.” So, he said: “by satisfying it legally with
your wives you are rewarded for it.” It is clear that the concept of worship in Islam is
comprehensive. It includes all positive activities of the individual. This of course is in agreement
with the allinclusive nature of Islam as a way of life. It regulates the human life on all levels: the
individual, the social, the economic, the political and the spiritual.All activities are considered by
Allah as acts of worship, if done in conformance to His guidance.This should lead us to seek
Allah's pleasure in our actions and always try to do them in the best possible manner, whether
we are being watched or we are alone.There is always the permanent supervisor, Who knows,
hears and sees everything and that is Allah. Discussing the non-ritual worship in Islam first does
not mean under-evaluating the importance of the ritual ones. Actually ritual worships, if
performed in true spirit, elevate the individual morally and spiritually and enable one to
perform one's activities in all walks of life according to the Guidance of God. Among ritual
worships, Salah (prayer) occupies the key position for two reasons. Firstly, it is the distinctive
mark of a believer. Secondly, it prevents an individual from all sorts of abominations and vices
by providing him chances ofdirect communication with his Creator five times a day, wherein he
renews his covenant with God and seeks His guidance again and again. Salah is the first
practical manifestation of Faith and also the foremost of the basic conditions for the success of
the believers: “Successful indeed are the Believers, those who humble themselves in their
prayers.” [Al-Qur'an 23:1-2]

The Prophet (pbuh) further emphasized:

“Those who offer their salah with great care and punctuality, will find it a light, a proof of
their faith and cause for their salvation on the Day of Judgment.”

After Salah, Zakah (obligatory annual charity) is an important pillar of Islam. In the Qur'an, Salah
and Zakah have mostly been mentioned together. Like Salah, Zakah is a manifestation of faith
that affirms that God is the sole owner of everything in the universe and what men hold is a
trust in their hand that God expects them to discharge. In this respect Zakah is an act of
devotion that, like prayer, brings the believer nearer to his Lord. Apart from this, Zakah is a
means of redistribution of wealth in a way that reduces differences between classes and
groups. It makes a fair contribution to social stability. By purging the soul of the rich from
selfishness,and the soul of the poor from envy and resentment against society. It closes down
the channels leading to class hatred and makes it possible for the springs of brotherhood and
solidarity to gush forth. Such stability is not merely based on the personal feelings of the rich: it
stands on a firmly established right. Siyam (fasting during the day time of the month of
Ramadan) is another pillar of Islam. The main function of fasting is to make a Muslim pure from
“within”. By such purity, one promotes what is good, and shuns direct communication with his
Creator five times a day, wherein he renews his covenant with God and seeks His guidance
again and again. Salah is the first practical manifestation of Faith and also the foremost of the
basic conditions for the success of the believers:

“Successful indeed are the Believers, those who humble themselves in their prayers.” [Al-
Qur'an 23:1-2]

The Prophet (pbuh) further emphasized: “Those who offer their salah with great care and
punctuality, will find it a light, a proof of their faith and cause for their salvation on the Day of
Judgment.” After Salah, Zakah (obligatory annual charity) is an important pillar of Islam. In the
Qur'an, Salah and Zakah have mostly been mentioned together. Like Salah, Zakah is a
manifestation of faith that affirms that God is the sole owner of everything in the universe and
what men hold is a trust in their hand that God expects them to discharge. In this respect Zakah
is an act of devotion that, like prayer, brings the believer nearer to his Lord. Apart from this,
Zakah is a means of redistribution of wealth in a way that reduces differences between classes
and groups. It makes a fair contribution to social stability. By purging the soul of the rich from
selfishness,and the soul of the poor from envy and resentment against society. It closes down
the channels leading to class hatred and makes it possible for the springs of brotherhood and
solidarity to gush forth. Such stability is not merely based on the personal feelings of the rich: it
stands on a firmly established right. Siyam (fasting during the day time of the month of
Ramadan) is another pillar of Islam. The main function of fasting is to make a Muslim pure from
“within”. By such purity, one promotes what is good, and shuns

what is evil. The glorious Qur'an confirms,

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that
ye may (learn) selfrestraint.” [Al-Qur'an 2:183]

In an authentic tradition, the Prophet (pbuh) reported Allah as saying, about the one who
fasts:“He suspends eating, drinking, and gratification of his sexual passion for My sake.”Thus his
reward is going to be according to God's great bounty. Fasting awakens one's conscience, and
reminds an individual of the suffering of the less fortunate, and thus promotes a sense of
sympathy and kindness to them. Lastly, we come to Al-Hajj (pilgrimage to the House of God in
Makka). This very important pillar of Islam manifests a unique unity, dispelling all kinds of
differences. Muslims from all corners of the world, wearing the same dress,respond to the call
of Hajj in one voice and language: Labbaik Alla humma Labbaik (Here I am at your service O
Lord!). During Hajj there is a strict exercise of self-discipline, where not only sacred things are
revered, but even the lives of plants and birds are made inviolable so that everything lives in
safety:

“Whoever honors the sacred Rites of Allah, for him it is good in the sight of his Lord...” [Al-
Qur'an 22:30]

Pilgrimage gives an opportunity to all Muslims from all groups, classes, organizations, and
governments from all over the Muslim world to meet annually in a great congress.The time and
venue of this congress has been set by their one God. Invitation to attend is open to every
Muslim. No one has the power to bar anyone. Every Muslim who attends is guaranteed full
safety and freedom as long as he himself does not violate its safety

Worship in Islam is woven into the daily life of a Muslim and is not confined to a holy place. The
fundamental aspects of worship in Islam are encompassed within five pillars, which enable
Muslims to cultivate their relationship with God.

1. Testimony of Faith (Shahadah): 

The first of the five basic foundations is knowingly and voluntarily asserting that, “There
is nothing worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”
 This statement is the basis of faith in Islam, affirming that no partners can be associated
with God and Muhammad is His final prophet. As a result of this belief, Muslims seek
guidance in life through God’s revelation (the Quran) and the teachings of Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh).
2. Prayer (Salah): 
Muslims are required to pray five times a day to maintain a spiritual connection with
God and remind themselves of their ultimate purpose in life. Through sincerity,
repentance, and direct prayer to God, Muslims strive to establish a personal spiritual
relationship with their Creator all throughout the day. This prayer includes physical
motions of bowing and prostrating, which were also performed by Jesus, Moses, and
the prophets before them.
3. Charity (Zakah): 
This is an annual charity given to the poor. Muslims must give 2.5% of their yearly
savings to help the poor, the needy, and the oppressed. Charity is one of the vital
sources of social welfare in Islam, encouraging a just society where everyone’s basic
needs are provided for.
4. Fasting (Sawm):
 Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim lunar
calendar, by refraining from eating, drinking, and sexual interaction from dawn to
sunset. It is an act of self-restraint and spiritual cleansing that increases one’s empathy
for the less fortunate and enables one to consciously control bad habits such as foul
language, idle talk, and anger. Fasting also helps people develop strong willpower as
they overcome the essential desires of their body and the damaging acts of their
tongue.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): 
The pilgrimage (journey) to Mecca is an act that every Muslim must perform once in
their life if they are physically and financially able. It symbolizes the unity of humankind
as Muslims from every race and nationality assemble together in equality to worship
God, following the traditions of Prophet Abraham.