Allah (swt) has indeed blessed mankind with creation,
creating us from nothing. In return for the gift of life, and all the blessings
that are associated with it, Allah (swt) desires for man solely to turn to Him alone
in Worship. For Allah (swt) says,
“I (Allah) did not create the Jinn and the Man except to worship
Me.”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Az-Zariyat, 51:56
In order for mankind to understand the Message of their Lord
and the means by which they could fulfil Allah’s (swt) Order, He (swt) sent to mankind
numerous Prophets; those who carried a message directly from Allah (swt) became
known as Messengers. This continued from the very beginning of time until it
culminated in the Prophet Muhammad (saw) who brought with him the last, final
and complete Message intended for the whole of mankind. Allah (swt) says,
“Verily, We have sent to every nation a messenger (saying), ‘Worship
Allah and avoid false gods (at-Taaghout).
Al-Qur’an - Surah An-Nahl, 16:36
The Message sent with each Prophet carried the same command,
that of the Tawheed of Allah (swt) and the negation of any partners with Him (swt).
Allah (swt) says,
“Indeed, whoever
associates anything in worship with Allahthen Allah has forbidden Paradise for
him, and his abode will be the Fire.”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Al-Mai’dah, 5:72
and,
“Surely, Allah will
not forgive the association of partners with Him (shirk), but He forgives
(sins) less that that of whomever He wishes”
Al-Qur’an - Surah An-Nisaa, 4:48
Al-Qur’an - Surah An-Nisaa, 4:48
Indeed Allah (swt) perfected and completed His call to mankind with the sending of the Messenger Muhammad (saw) who was the best of creation. With him (saw), Allah (swt) sent the Qur’an, a clear message and warning to the whole of mankind,
“Blessed is He who sent down the furqaan to His slave (Muhammad)
that he may be a warner to mankind”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Al-Furqaan, 25:1
Furqaan in the Arabic language means a criterion guiding
between that which is correct and that which is wrong. The Qur’an thus was thus
sent as a clarification for all matters, and as a guidance for those who heeded
its call.
“...Indeed we sent the Qur’an as a clarification for all
matters”
Al-Qur’an – Surah An-Nahl, 16:89
Worshipping Allah:
It is important to understand that if mankind wishes to obey
Allah (swt) and worship Him, this can only be done in the manner He (swt) has
prescribed for us. For Allah (swt) will bring us to account for all the actions
we undertake. He (swt) says,
“Therefore by your Lord, We will of a surety, call them to account
for all that they used to do.”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Al-Hijr, 15:92-93
Secondly, it is important to appreciate that the worship of
Allah (swt) is not merely an individual sensation between oneself and Allah
(swt); but rather is a continuous matter affecting all of one’s life. For Allah
(swt) has said,
“Verily my prayer, my sarificies, my living and my dying are
for Allah, the lord of the Al-Alameen. He has no partner. And of this I have
been commanded and I am the first of the Muslims.”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Al-Ana’am, 6:162-163
The above ayah describes the whole existence of a human
being; that being from the beginning of life, encompassing numerous events and eventually
ending in death. Allah (swt) has ordered the believers to surrender all of
their life and their wealth and sacrifices to Allah; thus desiring the
believers to act constantly in accordance with His command.
Allah did not solely reveal the Qur’an and then leave
mankind to act upon it according to their own whims or desires. Rather, He
(swt) sent with it the Messenger Muhammad (saw) to show us how to carry it,
live by it and to implement it. Allah (swt) has informed us in numerous ayat of
the obligation to follow the Messenger Muhammad (saw),
“Say: If you love Allah, follow me (Muhammad (saw)) and Allah
will love you.”
and,
“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have the best example for
him who looks to Allah and the last Day and remembers Allah much.”
Al-Qur’an - Surah Ale-Imraan, 3:31
12 Al-Qur’an - Surah Al-Ahzaab, 33:21
This is because Allah (swt) has instilled in the words, the
actions and the consent of the Prophet, the Sunnah, revelation from the Seven Heavens.
He (swt) says,
“Nor does he (Muhammad) say (aught) of (his own) desire. It
is no less than inspiration sent down to him”
13 Al-Qur’an - Surah An-Najm, 53:3-4
