Service is Worship

[Mohammad Rafoqie]

by Mohammad Rafique Etesame
Some people say that “service is worship” that, “if God serves us, why should we not serve Him? We should give honor to the name of God Almighty by serving His creatures. Worship is useless without the service to our fellowmen, God works through His people living in this world”.
But the question is: what is the correct way to serve Allah and His creation? And how can we love, serve and utilize the sick humanity and participate in their pain, trouble, affliction and sadness?
Really, it is the way that Allah Almighty revealed on his most sacred and pious persons i.e. the Holly Prophet (May Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon them) and that is Islam , as Allah Ordains, “Lo; religion with Allah(is) The Surrender those who (formerly) received the Scripture differed only after knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves,”(Ale-Imran:19)
Islam is a religion of love, peace, forbearance and piety, It teaches us to love and serve God and His creation, It reveals that God loves those who love mankind. It teaches us to love and serve God and His creation. It also reveals that God is the true and sincere friend of human being and Lives with him all the time. And, when he calls his true friend from the depth of his heart , be he is a sinner or a pious man, rich or poor, he receives a reply at once.
Almighty Allah Says in the Holy Quran,”and if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Befriender-a-transcendent patron, a transcendent Helper!”(Al-Infal: 40) and, when My servants question thee concerning Me then surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in Me, in order that they maybe led aright,”(The Cow:186)
To serve Allah and His creation, Islam presents two ways, Huqooq-Allah and Huqooqul-Ibad (rights of Allah and rights of His servants) .To serve Allah by paying His rights and to serve human being by paying his rights; is the real worship. Every two ways are explained well in the light of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) i.e. the good example of him.
The holy Prophet (PBUH) said that “feed the people who are hungry, give water to those who are thirsty and serve your parents. He also said,” there are five rights of a believer on the other believer that:=
(1) when he meets him, he say Salam to him.
(2) If he invites him to the meal, then he should accept his invitation.
(3) If he ask from him any consultation (for business,or another issue,), then he should give him the proper consultation.
(4) If he falls ill, then he should go to inquire after his health.
(5) If he dies, then he should offer his funeral. (Al-Mishkat-tul-Masabeeh)
In short, service will becomes real worship whin we pay the rights of Allah Almighty and His slaves.[/COLOR][/SIZE]