Mohammad Rafoqie
Junior Member
Concept of God in the time of worship
By Mohammad Rafique Etesame
The holy Qur’an reveals,” Say He is Allah the one, Allah, the eternally besought of all, He begets not, nor was begotten, and there is none comparable unto Him” (Al-Ikhlas:4)
These verses reveal that Allah is one and also there is none in the entire universe comparable to Allah Almighty. That is why He is free from all the qualities found in the creatures i.e. being a body, dimension, weight, essence width etc. Also there is no specific direction or place can be fixed in the entire universe that where He exists because He is the Omnipresent. But as His highest respect, it is the belief of Muslim Ummah that He exists on the throne situated over the Highest heaven as the holy Qur’an reveals, “A revelation from Him who created the earth and the high heavens, The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne “(Ta,Ha:5). According to the commentators “Istwa-alal-Arsh” means He took power over the universe not “sitting on the throne.”
Now the question is: when a believer establishes worship, what should be his concept about Allah that where He exists? For example, whether He exists in the Mosques, Baitullah Sharif or in Bait-tul-Muqaddas? He exists there! But Allah Almighty “exists” in the hearts of the believers in real as long as they pay full attention to Him at the time of worship. That is why heart has great importance in Islamic teachings as the holy Qur’an reveals about the Infidels of Mecca who did not accept Islam by hearts that, “Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom” (Al-Baqarah: 7). Also reveals, “Will they then not mediate on the Qur’an or are there locks on the hearts? (Mohammad:24)
The holy Prophet PBUH) said,” there is a piece of meat in human body; if it is right (in guidance), than all the body is right, and if it leads astray, then the whole body will leads astray. Beware! Beware! It is the heart” (Al-Mishkat). And, if someone wants to accept Islam, he bears a witness that there is no deity but Allah and Mohammad is the messenger of Allah”. And if he is dump or Elmer Fudd and cannot speak correctly, then the witness of his heart will be reliable and it will be known when he acts upon Islamic teachings.
The holy Prophet (PBUH), when asked a question about “Ehsan” replied that,” Ehsan is that you worship Allah Almighty as if you are seeing Him, and if it not so, then (imagine) that He is seeing you”. (Bokhar, Muslim) This Hadith is a clear proof that when a believer worships, he should pay full attention by heart to Allah SWT.
And, on the other hand, if a believer offers prayer but his attention is towards the business, domestic affairs or any other matters; then, despite his prayer will be offered, but without the essence of worship.
It means that he is offering prayer apparently, but in fact he is busy in doing his business etc.
A faithful believer always remains in the position of offering prayer . It does not mean that he offers prayers only and does nothing else except it. But he earns his daily bread and pays his duty to other necessary works also, he does all these works including prayers also but keeping in his mind that Allah is seeing him and is aware of all his actions. The holy Qur’an reveals,
”Lo! Man was created anxious
Fretful when evil befalleth him “
And, when good befalleth him, grudging;
Save worshippers
Who are constant at their worship
And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged
For the beggar and the destitute”; (Al-Ma’arij:25)
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said,” seven Muslims will be under the shadow of the throne of Allah at the Day of Judgment when there will be no shadow but the shadow of it.
Among them there will be the one who’s heart always “remains hanging” in the mosque that when he comes out of it after establishing one prater, he waits to hear the voice of Azan for other prayer”. (Al-Mishkat)
May Allah give us power to do all our works according to the teachings of Islam keeping in the mind that He is seeing us for all the times.
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