Editorial | Friday Special: Ibadah!

Ibadah or worship of the exalted lord has been referred to as the primary motive of the creation of humans and Jinn. Acts of devotion are something that many Muslims around the world tend to fear because they regard them as tiresome tasks devoid of reward or significance. Even though worship is described in the Qur’an as the purpose of life, many people nevertheless view it as a difficult chore that they would like to avoid. Instead of the other way around, we need and can profit from worshiping God. God invites us to worship Him as a result because He is merciful toward us and is aware of how much we need Him in this life and the next. Ibadah is Arabic for serving, adoring, veneration, and deifying. Additionally, it conveys the idea of humbly submitting oneself. Ibadah is “to submit to Allah with love and adoration by keeping His commandments,” according to Ibn Uthaymin. For this reason, a person is ready to put up with life’s hardships. It is what someone sacrifices time, effort, and resources for. This is the fundamental idea behind worship, which inspires people to embrace the highs and lows of the road leading to their intended destination. As they pursue what they think will bring them happiness and shield them from their suffering, it dominates a person’s ideas, emotions, and behaviours. Evidently, following one’s ultimate concern has the same four components—love, submission, seeking nearness, and obedience—that are present in the idea of Ibdah. Islam is distinct from other religions in that it views every behaviour, including eating, sleeping, and enduring hardship, as an act of devotion.