THE MEANING OF IBADAH

THE MEANING OF IBADAH

Shaikhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: "Ibaadah is obedience to Allaah by carrying out what He has commanded on the tongues of His messengers."

He also said: "Ibaadah is a collective term for everything which Allaah loves and is pleased with from among the sayings and inward and outward actions."

Ibn al-Qayyim said: Ibaadah - (is) Gratefulness to Him, Love of Him and Awe of Him

Ibn Katheer said:"Ibaadah in the language is humbleness (dhillah). It is sometimes said 'a levelled and smoothed road (mu'abbad) and an uneven road (ghair mu'abbad)' meaning (one has been) humbled, lowered, debased. Its usage in the Revelation: an expression of what brings together the perfection of Love, Fear and Hope (in Allaah's worship)."

Al-Qurtubee said: "The basis of Ibaadah: humbling oneself (tadhallull) and submission (khudoo') and the duties of the Sharee'ah are called 'Ibaadaat' (pl. of Ibaadah i.e. acts of worship) because the (worshippers) stick to them and perform them with submissiveness and out of humility to Allaah the Exalted."

From these statements you will realise that Ibaadah has a very wide meaning and is comprised of many matters. It will also become clear to you that many people have an incorrect and fragmented understanding of Ibaadah. Most commonly they limit the meaning of Ibaadah to prostrating, bowing, Fasting, Hajj and other acts of worship. However, this is only one aspect from the many aspects of Ibaadah.

In essence, the word Ibaadah in the language and in the Revelation has three meanings:

[1] Humbleness, Lowliness (Dhillah) and Submissiveness (Khudoo')
[2] Obedience (Taa'ah) and Compliance (Inqiyaad)
[3] Devotion, Sacrifice (Tanassuk) and Worship (Ta'alluh)

ITTIBAA' (IMITATING : A NECESSARY CONDITION OF IBADAH

As for Ittibaa' then that is also one of the meanings of the testimony that "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah" in that one's Ibaadah should be in agreement with and in accordance with what the Rasulullah (s.a.w) came with.

Every form of worship which is introduced and invented and which Rasulullah (s.a.w) did not come with is false and rejected, not being accepted from the one who acts upon it even if he has Iman and Ikhlaas.

The Messenger (S.A.W) said as is recorded by Ibn Khuzaimah in his Saheeh about the perfection and comprehensiveness of his Guidance: "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul. I have not left a single thing which brings you closer to Paradise and distances you from Hellfire except that I have commanded you with it and I have not left a single thing which brings you closer to Hellfire and distances you from Hellfire except that I have prohibited you from it "

In the two Saheehs of Bukhaaree and Muslim the Prophet (S.A.W) says: "Whoever introduces something into this affair of ours something which does not belong to it will have it rejected"

Muslim adds in his Saheeh from Aa'ishah that the Prophet (S.A.W) also said: "Whoever does an action which we have not commanded will have it rejected"

Furthermore, one's Ibaadah should be performed in accordance with the manner of Rasulullah (S.A.W) and that is his proven, authentic Sunnah. Abu Daawood in his Sunan reports from Ibn Eesa: "Whoever does an action in a way different from ours then it is rejected "

The great Imaam Sufyaan ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah) said "No word is accepted without action and no word and action are accepted without intention and no word action and intention are correct unless they are in accordance with the Sunnah."

From the abovementioned hadeeths we should know that:

1. The Messenger's guidance is complete and perfect, nothing has been omitted. Abu Dharr (radiallaahu-anhu) said: "The Messenger (S.A.W) did not even leave a bird flapping its wings in the sky except that he gave us knowledge regarding it"

2. Anything introduced into the religion which was not present at the time of the Messenger (S.A.W) and his Companions (radiallaahu-anhum) will be rejected. Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said: "Whoever introduces something into Islam and considers it to be something good has claimed that Muhammad (S.A.W) was treacherous to his trust of Messengership"

3. Any action (of worship) which is performed without the command of Allaah or His Messenger (S.A.W) will be rejected.

4. Any action which is performed in a manner other than that of Rasulullah (S.A.W) will be rejected.

The matter has been made clear for us in the Saheeh of Muslim who reports from Jaabir ibn Abdullaah (radiallaahu-anhu) that Rasulullah (S.A.W) used to say in his sermon for a particular need: "The best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad and the worst of affairs are the newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance."

IKHLAS (SINCERITY) : A NECESSARY CONDITION OF IBADAH

As for Ikhlaas, then that is one of the meanings of the testimony "There is nothing which has the right to Ibaadah except Allah" in that your Ibaadah should be exclusively and sincerely for Allah Azzawajall. Iman by itself is not sufficient for our Ibaadah to be accepted by Allah. Rather it is necessary that your action is out of Iman in Allah and complete Ikhlaas to Him Azzawajall so that you do not make anyone a partner with Him. The Exalted said:

{Those who have iman and confuse not their iman with Injustice. For them there will be security and they are the rightly guided}

Injustice here means Shirk as was explained by the Messenger (S.A.W) to the companions (radiallaahu-anhum) and as has been recorded by Bukhaaree in the Kitaabut-Tafseer of his Saheeh.

Allaah Azzawajall has laid down a condition for the perfection of Iman, which gives its possessor security, guidance and freedom from Shirk and that is Ikhlas; the abundance of which is necessary for Ibadah to be accepted. The Exalted has said:

{And they were not commanded except with this: that they should worship Allaah, being completely sincere in the Deen}

Ikhlas is the sanctification of your speech and action from every blemish of the soul's desire. For example, desiring your beautification in the hearts of people, desiring their praise so that they say 'a scholar', 'what a brave man' or 'a doer of good'. Also included in this is running away from the criticism of the people (i.e. abandoning certain actions because people may criticise or become angry), seeking people's magnification of yourself, their aid and assistance, the fulfilment of your needs or desiring other peoples wealth and possessions - while being contented with all of that because your soul is deceived and your amazement with yourself.

Ikhlaas is not correct until you are truthful in your speech, action, striving and while you desire nothing but the Face of Allaah Azzawajall and the Home of the Hereafter.

There are some other useful definitions of Ikhlaas:

1. It is the freedom of the desire for nearness to Allaah Azzawajall from every blemish or impurity

2. It is singling out Allaah Azzawajall with ones intention in all acts of worship

3. It is forgetting the sight of the creation by continual observance of the Creator

4. It is to hide your good deeds just like you would hide your evil deeds.