Worship and Ethics

PREVIEW

It is not news that most people view religion as been personal. Some believe it is an act which must exceed the four corners of the house of worship. Even some opined that there is no link between our socio-economic life and religion. Is it correct or wrong?

DEFINITIONS

According to Hebrew, the word used to connote worship is –SHACHAN- which means “to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royal or God); to bowl down, crouch, fall down (flat) humble, beseech, do (make) obeisance, etc.

In Greek there are three basic words used as regards worship. The first is – PROSKUNEO – it originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling dawn to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their lord.

           

Secondly the word SEBOMAI, it means “to reverence, hold in awe”. And the third word is LATEREUO which means to render religious service to homage.

           

In English language worship literally means to ascribe worth to something. It also means feelings or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. In Arabic Language the word “IBAADAH” is used for worship which means-idolize, adore as divine, homage or reverence paid to deity.

MEANING OF ETHICS

Rules provided in an external source e.g code of conduct in workplaces or principles in religion.

MEANING OF MORALS

It refers to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong.

Al-Ghazaali defines Islamic ethics as the way to acquire the well being of the soul and to guard it against the vices.

Ibn Taymiyyah defines Islamic ethics as a science that seeks to know which deals with the ways to maintain virtues as their optimum level i.e. to avoid wrong doing and to do what is right and desirable.

Considering the above, let’s take a look at the two primary sources of ISLAMIC LAW, i.e. the Qur’an and the Hadith in relation to worship and ethic. The Qur’an uses the word “IBAADAH” to connote worship and “AL-KHAYR” or “AL-BIRRU” for goodness and righteousness.

           

Qur’an says: “Oh the believers, bow prostrate and worship your sustainer, and be righteous so that you may prosper”. - Al-Hajj: 77.

Based on the aforementioned, it means IBAADAH embedded in righteousness and goodness that is why the pillars of Islam (i.e Iman, Solat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj) expatiate the true relationship between worship and moral.

1.      IMAN: As explain above, iman as the first pillar of Islam enjoin every Muslim to believe in oneness of Allah, that their no god to be worship except Him and to believe in the prophethood of Muhammad (S.A.W) just like others before him.

2.      SOLAT: i.e. devotion also goes along with moral and manner if not ones solat will not be meaningful.

Qur’an reads: “Recite (O Muhammad) what has been revealed to you the Book (the Qur’an), and perform As-Salat, verily, As-Salat (the Prayer) prevents from great sins of every kind of evil wicked deed, and the remembering of Allah is greater indeed. And Allah knows what you do.” - Q29:45.

3.      SAWM: (Fasting) the Prophet of Islam says: “If one fast but not let go evil, witness and working towards it, such person has no reward from Allah, he/she is only on hunger strike”. All Muslims are to fast in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of Islamic (Lunar) Calender.

4.      ZAKAT: (Charity) Allah revealed: “Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve” - Q2:262.

5.      HAJJ: (Pilgrimage) this also goes with moral as Allah made it clear in this chapter: “The Hajj (pilgrimage) is in the well-known (lunar year) months. So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram, then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife) nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc). So fear me, O men of understanding!”. - Q2:197.

Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) summarized the relationship between worship and ethics as follows when he asked his disciples this question; “Do you know he who is deflated? They replied, he who has neither money, cars house etc; the prophet answered; a deflated person among my disciples is he/she who comes forth on the day of judgment with Solat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj, but instead of been reward for compensation, then his/her good deeds were used has compensations, if the good deeds finish, then he shall be rewarded with the evils he has done, then be thrown into the hell”. Reported by Muslim.

In conclusion, it is crystal cleared that Ibaadah and good deeds are coin of two faces which can’t be separated, thus been a good worshipper of Allah, you must “FIWA KESIN and FESIN KUNWA”. If I may ask; was Prophet praise for money, shelter, knowledge, children in the Qur’an? NO, but with good characters as stated “And verily, you (O Muhammad S.A.W) are on an exalted standard of character”. Q68:3.