Worship

 

Hameed: Brother! First tell me something about worship?

 

Rasheed: You only tell me.

 

Hameed: Look! Worship is not prostration (Sajdah), the bow in prayer (Ruku), the circumambulation (Tawaaf) or fasting (Sawm). But worship is to busy oneself in the adoration and memory of Allah SWT.

 

Look! a man recites the holy Quran and the other man listens to him. So is listening not considered as a worship? Similarly if a man fondles or hugs his child thinking that he is a slave of Allah and Allah SWT has bestowed him with his upbringing. Or if a man loves his wife just because it is Allah’s Decree to do so. Don’t you think all these things come under worship?

 

However holy Quran says regarding the life of the Prophet (PBUH):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sec 20 of surah Anaam

 

Translation: Say: “Truly, my prayer, and my service or sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the cherisher of the worlds.”

 

This verse clearly proves that whatever is done with the thought for the sake of Allah in mind is worship and done without for the sake of Allah in mind is not worship what so ever.

 

The very basis of worship lies in intention and faith, which are the features of heart, not of hands and legs. The many verses you quoted are in relation to idols, which cannot profit or incur loss to us. We must understand that every thing must be kept at its own place. However one Hadith from Sahih reported by Muslim, which is quoted by Allama Nabhani in his book ‘Isteqasa’ is as follows: “The verses, which correspond to idols must not be related with Saliheen or Righteous.”

 

Now the important points to be kept in mind are that the decrees for non-living things (stones) are different from living things (vegetation), the decrees for animals are different from that of human beings, human beings are the best of all the creatures. Humans are the vicegerents of Allah SWT on earth. The first vicegerent being Adam A.S. The same thing is applied for the apostles and saints as well. They are different from common people. Even all the Prophets are not equal but are of different status.

 

The holy Quran says:

Translations: These are messengers! That in them we caused one to excel upon the other.(suratul Baqarah verse:253)

 

Allah SWT bestowed gifts to different messengers in different ages; to some of them Allah spoke and to someone Allah raised in degrees above all.

Therefore to compare an ordinary man with saints or Prophets is foolish.

 

Rasheed: Can you quote any verse or Hadith regarding Saints?

 

Hameed: Not one, I can quote several verses from the holy Quran.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Section 7 Surah younus part 2)

 

Translation: Behold! Verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.

 

Allah’s all embracing knowledge and constant watchful care over all his creatures, may be a source of fear for sinners, but there is no fear for those whom He honours with His love and friendship, neither in this world nor the world to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(surat Al-Fussilat)

 

Translation: In the case of those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and further stand straight and steadfast the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest) "nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss) the which ye were promised!

(surat Al Fusilat)

We are your protectors in this life and in the Hereafter: therein shall ye have all that your souls shall desire; therein shall ye have all that ye ask for!

 

In another place the holy Quran says:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Suratul Al Ahqaf)

 

Translation: Verily those who say "Our Lord is Allah" and remain firm (on that Path) on them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve.

 

Such shall be Companions of the Garden dwelling Therein (for aye): a recompense for their (good) deeds.

 

And in another place the holy Quran praises the sincere and true devotees of Allah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Suratul Al-Baiyina)

 

Translation: Allah is well pleased with them and they are pleased with Allah: all this for such as fear their Lord and Cherisher.

 

The good pleasure of Allah is the final bliss of salvation. The good pleasure is mutual; the truly saved is he whose will has become completely identified with Allah’s universal will.

 

I would like to quote some famous Ahadith regarding holy Saints or true devotees of Allah SWT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: In this Umma like Ibrahim (PBUH) there are 30 Abdaals. If one Abdaal dies he is substituted by another (Reported by Imam Ahmad as Sahih).

 

One more Hadith supporting the same view point is reported by Ubada bin Samit: Prophet SAW said: “In my Umma there are 30 Abdaals, because of them the earth exist, rain falls and it is due to them comes help and success.

 

Like above traditions there are many more, which are quoted by Qazi Shaukani in his book ‘Fawaid-e-Majmua’.

 

Various different Ahadith through different ways have come from which some have been reported by Imam Tirmidhi, Imam Tabrani and Ibne Asakar. The author of ‘Imran-ul-Quloob’ has quoted them. For detail study about ‘Abdaals’, ‘Qutub’ and ‘Ghouse’ interested readers are requested to refer ‘Imran-ul-Quloob’.

 

The holy Saints seek the light of holy guidance  from the Prophet SAW and a very popular saying regarding the Saints is as follows:

 

“A prelate in his community is like a Prophet in his Umma.”

 

For Prophets the dawn of miracle is a necessary thing to place the devotees on the right path in the same way for the holy Saints, parables (karamat) are a necessary thing.