Hikmah from Ibadah

Never stop or get tired of worship in order to get closer to the Creator 

What is the Meaning of Ibadah? 

            The Arabic word ibadah (عبادة) or ibada, usually translated "worship", is connected with related words literally meaning "Slavery", and has connotations of obedience, submission, and humility. In terms of Islam, ibadah is the ultimate obedience, the ultimate submission, and the ultimate humility to God along with the ultimate love for him. Muslims believe that ibadah is the reason for the existence of all humanity. That is, Muslims believe that all people exist only to worship God. Ibadah consequently means following Islamic beliefs and practices – its commands, prohibitions, the Halal, and the haram. For Muslims, ibadah is also something that comes from the heart, or sincerity, as a result of belief in Islam. Therefore, ibadah is something that can not be forced upon another person.

وَ ما خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَ الإِْنْسَ إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“I did not create the jinn and humans except that they may worship Me.”

Why do We Need to Worship  God???

1. Greatness of God 

2. Feelings of Dependence 

3. Awareness of Blessings 

4. Human Nature (Fitrah) 

The Positive Values from Ibadah: 

1. Applying the right 'amal (practices) 

As a servant to Almighty Allah SWT, we have to back to our nature and purpose of creation =. Therefore, we should not arrogant towards God, we should worship him as he commands and we should forbid what it is forbidden. 

Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written [i.e., described] in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and prohibits them from what is wrong and makes lawful for them what is good and forbids them from what is evil and relieves them of their burden1 and the shackles which were upon them.2 So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him, and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be successful.

— Saheeh International

2. Internalising the Insan (Positive Virtues) 

 We learn about Ihsan towards Allah from Ibadah. Therefore, we can practice Ihsan towards human beings anytime and anywhere. As clearly stated in Hadith Gabriel. 

         Rasulullah s.a.w said which means: “Worship Allah s.w.t as if you see Him. If you cannot, (remember) Allah         SWT sees you. Count yourself among those who are about to die and protect yourself from those who are persecuted,                 because indeed his prayer is accepted by Allah s.w.t. ” (Narrated by Abu Na’im from Zaid bin Arqam)

3. Setting the Right Niyyah (Intentions) 

Intentions are important in doing everything. As Prophet Muhammad SAW ummat, there is a specialty in niyyah because we can get rewarded when we intend to do a good action even though the action does not occur yet. 

"From the Commander of the Faithful Abu Hafsah, Umar bin Al-Khattab RA, he said:" I heard the Prophet SAW said: "All deeds depend on his intention, and everyone only gets what he intended. So whoever migrates to Allah and His Messenger, then his migration is to Allah and His Messenger. Whoever migrates because of the pleasures of the world or because of a woman he is going to marry, then his migration is to what he intended. ” (Reported by Bukhari and Muslim)