Is Allah in need of our worship?
Surah 1 Al-Fatiha Ayat 4
Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een
You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help
Allahﷻ , is mentioned in the Qur’an as Al-Ghani, the self-sufficient and all-provider (i.e not needy of anyone or of anything).
Surah 51. Az-Zariyat Ayah 56
Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illa liyaaabudooni
And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship me (alone)
Surah 51 Az-Zariyat Ayah 57
Ma oreedu minhum min rizqin wama oreedu an yutaaimoonI
I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed me. Verily, Allah is the all-provider, owner of power, the most strong.
Surah Faatir 35:15
Ya ayyuha alnnasu antumu alfuqarao ila AllahI waAllahu huwa alghaniyyu alhameedu
O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allah. But Allah is the rich, worthy of all praise.
It is clear that Allah does not need worship. One may then ask, so why then are we ordained to worship Allah the almighty?
Allahﷻ is mentioned in the Qur’an as the guider, Al-HadI and Al-Rashid. It is us, the created, as we are needy and dependent, that need to worship. With worship we gain guidance from the Creator. It is also by worshipping the Creator, the one that gives us life, that one is in fact re-affirming one's own existence and being, and one's reliance on Allah in all matters.
Millions of Muslims across the planet offer salat prayers five times daily. Imagine the impact if these prayers were offered in the manner whereby we truly enriched and benefited our daily existence.
Do not despair of the mercy and forgiveness of Allah.
Surah 23 Al-Mu’minoon Ayah 12-16
Walaqad khalaqna alinsana min sulalatin min teenin
And indeed we created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and earth).
Thumma jaaaalnahu nutfatan fee qararin makeenin
Thereafter we made him (the offspring of Adam) as a nutfah (mixture of the male and female discharge) (and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb)
Thumma khalaqna alnnutfata aaalaqatan fakhalaqnaalaaalaqata mudghatan fakhalaqna almudghata aaithaman fakasawna alaaithama lahman thumma anshanahu khalqan akhara fatabaraka Allahu ahsanu alkhaliqeena
Then we made the nutfah into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood), then we made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then we made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then we clothed the bones with flesh, and then we brought it forth as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the best of Creators
Thumma innakum baaada thalika lamayyitoona
After that, surely, you will die
Then (again), surely, you will be resurrected on the day of resurrection
‘Thee alone we worship’ indicates total submission to Allahﷻ. He has absolute power and is in absolute control of all affairs – one is entirely dependent on Himﷻ .
We are creation – created from tin (mud) and before that we did not exist.
Worshipping Allahﷻ , the Creator is our connection with that which created and sustains us.
Worship is the highest and most self-fulfilling act that man can do. It is in worship that we acknowledge our own existence, limitations, dependency and need. We seek the guidance of the Creator of all things, for it is only the Creatorﷻ that can provide us with true guidance.
Salat is worship – designed for man, the created, by the Creatorﷻ . It is complete guidance and is therefore a means and a guide to attaining total self-fulfilment and success in this world, the duniya.
We are entirely dependent on salat and it is self-evident that we attain the benefit through correct practice.
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help!
Ibn Taymiyyah stated that Allahﷻ , revealed 104 heavenly books. The meanings of all of these books are found in the Qur'an. All of the meanings of the Qur’an can be found in Surah Al-Fatiha.
Eminently, all of Surah Al-Fatiha can be found in the following verse:
Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een
You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help
We should mention that in this ayah the type of speech changes from the third person to direct address by using the kaf in the statement ‘iyyaka’ (you). This is because after the servant has praised and thanked Allah, he stands before him, addressing him directly.
‘You alone we worship’
Submission of the nafs (ego) occurs in worship.
Survival and the Human Instincts
1 Survival Instinct – Shelter, clothing, transport & to avert danger
2 Sanctification Instinct- Worship
3 Sustenance Instinct – Food and water
4 Reproductive Instinct- sexual attraction
These instincts exist innately in all human beings, it is part of our make-up. Neuroscientists have mapped the human brain, recognising zones that appear to be the areas of brain function that match these instincts. The instincts are the basis of the urges that all human beings experience. However the response to how one satisfies these urges is a matter of choice. As Muslims we believe that Islam describes the manner in which all instincts are satisfied in a manner that is consistent to attaining peace harmony and tranquillity to one's body, mind an soul as well as with others and with all of the created universe.
The nafs is in a continual ‘battle’ of desires and survival, as it attempts to fulfil on these primordial instincts. With salat the nafs (ego) is surrendered five times daily. This action in itself brings respite and peace.
Linguistically, ‘ibadah’ means subdued. It is the ego (nafs) that is subdued in true worship. One ceases allowing the ego to resist and instead submits entirely to the truth. In doing so, submission replaces resistance; the result is that confusion and anxiety are replaced by peace and tranquillity in one’s mind. ‘Ibadah’ implies the utmost love, humility and fear.
‘You alone we ask for help’
The created is in awe of the Creator and is absolutely reliant upon Himﷻ. One seeks the guidance of Allah aloneﷻ for help as we, the created are:
Absolutely dependent on Allahﷻ ,the Sustainer-Cherisher, for food air, water, health
Absolutely dependent on Allahﷻ for a favourable outcome and success in all matters
Absolutely dependent on Allahﷻ and his Guidance alone to attain peace of mind, tranquillity and true fulfilment in one's life and with all one’s relationships to others, for it is Allahﷻ that is greater than all matters, Allah o Akbar
One is reliant on Allahﷻ the Most Powerful and Always Present
With this reliance and belief one is entirely assured of a successful outcome in the knowledge that all things happen only for one's benefit; all outcomes are always for the best of creation. The Muslim strives to live his/her life with complete trust in Allahﷻ , never giving up hope and not despairing.
Surah 2 Al-Baqara Ayah 150
Wamin haythu kharajta fawallI wajhaka shatra almasjidI alharamI wahaythu ma kuntum fawalloo wujoohakum shatrahu lialla yakoona lilnnasI aaalaykum hujjatun illa allatheena thalamoo minhum fala takhshawhum waikhshawnee waliotimma niaamatee aaalaykum walaaaallakum tahtadoona