Ibadah is an Arabic word which usually translates to ‘worship’ . The English word worship means reverent homage or service paid to God. In English, worship commonly refers to prayer and praise of God usually performed in places of worship. The term ‘ibadah’ in Arabic has a wider meaning than this.
What constitutes Ibadah in Islam.
Ibadah includes all lawful acts in Islam done with the consciousness of Allah, and all acts of kindness done with the intentions of pleasing Allah. It also includes avoidance of unlawful acts out of obedience to Allah. It even goes further to include urging others to do good and avoid evil. Basically, every good or avoidance of evil done with the consciousness of Allah is considered an act of Ibadah. Allah says in the Quran:
“I have not created jinn and man other than they worship me” (Quran 51 verse 56).
The concepts of Ibadah.
Ibadah in Islam includes the five pillars of Islam. It also includes any lawful work or kind deed or intention provided it is motivated by loving submission or obedience to Allah. It also includes restraining oneself from wrongdoing for the sake of Allah.
It was narrated from Abu Dharr that some people from among the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, the rich people will get more reward. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they give in charity from their excess wealth.” He said, “Has not Allah given you things with which you can give charity? Every tasbeehah (saying ‘Subhanallaah (Glory be to Allaah)’) is a charity. Every Takbeerah (saying ‘Allaahuakbar (Allah is Most Great)’) is a charity. Every Tahmeedah (saying alhamdulillaah (praise be to Allaah)’ is a charity. Every Tahleelah (saying Laa ilaaha illallah (there is no god but Allah) is a charity. Enjoining what is good is a charity. Forbidding what is evil is a charity. Having intercourse (with one’s wife) is a charity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, if one of us fulfils his desire, is there reward in that?” He said, “Do you not see that if he does it in a haraam way he will have the burden of sin? So if he does it in a halaal way, he will have a reward for that.”
(Narrated by Imam Muslim)
Consciousness of accountability to Allah.
A believer is conscious that all his deeds on earth, both major and minor are recorded. On Yaumul-Qiyamah(the day of Judgement), we shall be shown the record of our deeds.
According to a hadith related Abu Huraira and Tirmidhi, Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said: “everyone who dies regrets”. The Sohaabas(companions) then asked, what is his regret? The Prophet said: “if he is virtuous, he will that he was not able to increase his good deed and if he is sinful, he will regret that he could not abstain from(committing sins)”.
A believer is therefore aware that his behaviour on earth will greatly affect his condition in the hereafter. Will be among those who are welcomed by the angels, or among those put to shame and enter the fire of suffering?
The sincere believer hopes to experience the love of Allah and for Allah expressed in his words in Quran 89 verse 27-30: “O soul at peace, return to thy Lord, well-pleased and well pleasing Him. Enter among my servants! Enter my paradise.”
Another verse indicates that not only deeds but even out thoughts and intentions will be accounted for on the day of Judgement. “And do not concern yourself with anything of which you have no knowledge. Verily your hearing, sight and heart will be called to account for it(on judgement day).” (Quran 17 verse 36).
In hadith 1 of an-nawawi’s collection, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.”
Application of the principle of accountability to Allah in our daily lives.
It is through belief in accountability to Allah that muslims learns to control their selfish desires. He tries to benefit his fellow men and avoid harming them. Thus, by practice and constant prayer, this becomes our way of living;our personality. We become more honest and truthful, more trustworthy, kind, charitable and helpful to others.
According to hadith 26 of an-nawawi’s collection, the Prophet considered minor acts valuable. On the authority of Abu Huraira, Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said, “Every person must do charity every day the sun comes up. To act justly between two people is charity, to help a man with his mount, lifting him unto it is charity, a good word is charity, every step taken to perform prayers is charity and removing a harmful thing from the road is charity.”
In this way,consciousness of accountability to Allah is a potent motivation to inner discipline. A believer should not require supervision at work, because he should work diligently in the spirit of Ibadah, to please Allah and awareness that Allah is close to him at al times. “closer (as the Quran says) to him than the vein in his neck.”(Quran 50 verse 10). Consciousness of our accountability to Allah, which is the foundation of Ibadah brings benefit to both the society and an individual in this world and the hereafter.
Ibadah is an Arabic word which usually translates to ‘worship’. The English word worship means reverent homage or service paid to God. In English, worship commonly refers to prayer and praise of God usually performed in places of worship. The term ‘ibadah’ in Arabic has a wider meaning than this.
What constitutes Ibadah in Islam.
Ibadah includes all lawful acts in Islam done with the consciousness of Allah and all acts of kindness done with the intentions of pleasing Allah. It also includes avoidance of unlawful acts out of obedience to Allah. It even goes further to include urging others to do good and avoid evil. Basically, every good or avoidance of evil done with the consciousness of Allah is considered an act of Ibadah. Allah says in the Quran:
“I have not created jinn and man other than they worship me” (Quran 51 verse 56).
The concepts of Ibadah.
Ibadah in Islam includes the five pillars of Islam. It also includes any lawful work or kind deed or intention provided it is motivated by loving submission or obedience to Allah. It also includes restraining oneself from wrongdoing for the sake of Allah.
It was narrated from Abu Dharr that some people from among the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “O Messenger of Allah, the rich people will get more reward. They pray as we pray, and they fast as we fast, but they give in charity from their excess wealth.” He said, “Has not Allah given you things with which you can give charity? Every tasbeehah (saying ‘Subhanallah (Glory be to Allaah)’) is a charity. Every Takbeerah (saying ‘Allaahuakbar (Allah is Most Great)’) is a charity. Every Tahmeedah (saying alhamdulillah (praise be to Allaah)’ is a charity. Every Tahleelah (saying Laa ilaaha illallah (there is no god but Allah) is a charity. Enjoining what is good is a charity. Forbidding what is evil is a charity. Having intercourse (with one’s wife) is a charity.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah if one of us fulfils his desire, is there reward in that?” He said, “Do you not see that if he does it in a haraam way he will have the burden of sin? So if he does it in a halaal way, he will have a reward for that.”
(Narrated by Imam Muslim)
The consciousness of accountability to Allah.
A believer is conscious that all his deeds on earth, both major and minor are recorded. On Yaumul-Qiyamah(the Day of Judgement), we shall be shown the record of our deeds.
According to a hadith related Abu Huraira and Tirmidhi, Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said: “everyone who dies regrets”. The Sohaabas(companions) then asked, what is his regret? The Prophet said: “if he is virtuous, he will that he was not able to increase his good deed and if he is sinful, he will regret that he could not abstain from(committing sins)”.
A believer is therefore aware that his behaviour on earth will greatly affect his condition in the hereafter. Will be among those who are welcomed by the angels, or among those put to shame and enter the fire of suffering?
The sincere believer hopes to experience the love of Allah and for Allah expressed in his words in Quran 89 verse 27-30: “O soul at peace, return to thy Lord, well-pleased and well-pleasing Him. Enter among my servants! Enter my paradise.”
Another verse indicates that not only deeds but even out thoughts and intentions will be accounted for on the day of Judgement. “And do not concern yourself with anything of which you have no knowledge. Verily your hearing, sight and heart will be called to account for it(on judgement day).” (Quran 17 verse 36).
In hadith 1 of an-nawawi’s collection, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Actions are but by intentions and every man shall have only that which he intended. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger, his migration was for Allah and His Messenger, and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take some woman in marriage, his migration was for that for which he migrated.”
Application of the principle of accountability to Allah in our daily lives.
It is through belief in accountability to Allah that Muslims learns to control their selfish desires. He tries to benefit his fellow men and avoid harming them. Thus, by practice and constant prayer, this becomes our way of living; our personality. We become more honest and truthful, more trustworthy, kind, charitable and helpful to others.
According to hadith 26 of an-nawawi’s collection, the Prophet considered minor acts valuable. On the authority of Abu Huraira, Prophet Muhammad(SAW) said, “Every person must do charity every day the sun comes up. To act justly between two people is a charity, to help a man with his mount, lifting him unto it is a charity, a good word is a charity, every step taken to perform prayers is a charity and removing a harmful thing from the road is charity.”
In this way, the consciousness of accountability to Allah is a potent motivation to inner discipline. A believer should not require supervision at work, because he should work diligently in the spirit of Ibadah, to please Allah and awareness that Allah is close to him at all times. “closer (as the Quran says) to him than the vein in his neck.”(Quran 50 verse 10). The consciousness of our accountability to Allah, which is the foundation of Ibadah brings benefit to both the society and an individual in this world and the hereafter.
