The concept of worship in Islam is misun-
derstood by many people including some
Muslims. Worship is commonly taken to mean
performing ritualistic acts such as prayers, fasting,
charity, etc.This limited understanding of worship
is only one part of the meaning of worship in Islam.
The traditional definition of worship in Islam is a
comprehensive definition that includes almost
everything in any individual's activities. The
definition goes something like this: “Worship is an
all inclusive term for all that God loves of external
and internal sayings and actions of a person.” In
other words, worship is everything one says or does
for the pleasure of Allah. This of course, includes
rituals as well as beliefs, social activities, and
personal contributions to the welfare of society.
Islam looks at the individual as a whole. One is
required to submit oneself completely to Allah, as
the Qur'an instructed the Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) to do: Say: “Truly, my prayer
and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are
(all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner
hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of
those who bow to His will.” [Al-Qur'an 6:162-163].
The natural result of this submission is that all
one's activities should conform to the instructions
of the One God to whom the person is submitting.
Islam being a complete way of life requires that its
followers model every aspect of their life according
to its teaching, religious or otherwise. This might
sound strange to some people who think of religion
as a personal relation between the individual and
God, having no impact on one's daily activities.
As a matter of fact, Islam does not think much of
mere rituals when they are performed mechanically
and have no influence on one's inner self.
“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces towards
East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah
and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and
the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love
for Him, for your kin, fo