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Worship in Islam

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Outline

• Creation and Worship• What kind of God do Muslims

worship?• Does God need our worship?• What is worship? • What benefits do we get from

worship?

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The Purpose of Creation: A parable

• The universe is like a palace built up by a king with beautiful designs, artful calligraphies, and fine jewelries…

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People

People on this earth are like the guests of this king who invited them to his palace to present them his beautiful designs and arts…

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Messengers

Messengers are like servants of this king to bring people life and tell them the meanings of the designs and the calligraphies…

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Holy Books

The holy books are like the brochures of the palace explaining to the guests the meanings of the designs of the palace…

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Man’s duty

•To believe in this King and appreciate His bounties through worship

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What is worship?Worship is the every legitimate act a

believer makes in the state of obedience

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Prescribed forms of worship

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PRAYERS• Daily prayers• Friday prayer• Festival

prayers twice a year

• Funeral prayer

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Non-ritual worship

– Supplication and Thanksgiving – Reflection – Patience in the face of hardship– Seeking knowledge or sustenance, – Service to humanity– Recitation of the Qur’an– Love of People– Family relationship

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Essence of worship• Intention• Consciousness • Sincerity• Humbleness• Poverty• Hope• Fear

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Quiz

What kind of God do Muslims worship?

a. Allah which is different from what Christians and Jews worship

b. Same God as Christians and Jewsc. Muslim worship both Allah and

Muhammad

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Answersa. “Allah! there is no god but He, the

living, the self subsisting, eternal. No slumber can seize him nor heavens and on earth…” 2/255

b. "What will ye worship after me?" They said: "We shall worship thy God and the God of thy fathers, - of Abraham, Isma`il, and Isaac. The One (True) God: to Him we bow (in Islam).“ 2/133

c. “Say (O Muhammad) I worship Allah alone, sincerely and with full devotion.” 39/14

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Does God need our worship?

• “Say: "He, God, the Unique One of Absolute Unity. God, the Eternally-Besought-of-All (Himself in no need of anything). He begets not, nor is He begotten. And comparable to Him there is none.”

• “…the treasures of the heavens and the earth belong to God..” 63/7

• The example of Zayd b. Amr

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What benefits do we get from worship?

• Worshiping God strengthens our faith. • Worship puts our life into an order. • Establishes a universal brotherhood.• Worship provides inner peace,

elevates our soul, enriches our abilities, cleans our tendencies, enlightens our thoughts, and enables us to reach our passions.

Outline

• Definition of the Qur'an• How & Why was the Qur’an

revealed? • Is the Qur’an written by Muhammed

(pbuh)?• Why is it in Arabic?

Definition of the Qur’an• The Qur’an is the

expression and explanation of GOD’s laws of creation or “nature”.

• It is the strongest and immutable source of religious rules and pillars.

God AlmightyGod Almighty

GabrielGabriel

The MessengersThe Messengers

Revelation of the Qur’an

• All verses in the Qur’an were sent to Prophet Mohammad little by little over a period of 23 years.

• It was sent to Him (pbuh) by revelation;- By angel Gabriel without being seen - By angel Gabriel in the form of a human (Bukhârî)

Was the Qur’an written by Muhammed (pbuh)?• It could not be written

by Muhammed (pbuh) because;

-He (pbuh) was illiterate (He (pbuh) could not read nor write). -There would not be any criticism about Him (pbuh) in The Qur’an

-The Qur’an would not have lasted to this day in its original form. (15.87/27.6/75.17-18/76.23)

10.37. And this Qur’an is not such that it could possibly be fabricated by one in attribution to God, but it is a (Divine Book) confirming (the Divine origin of and the truths that are still contained by) the Revelations prior to it, and an explanation of the Essence of all Divine Books – wherein there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.

Music of The Qur’an

Why is it in Arabic?• The Qur’an was revealed in an Arabian area so it

has to be in Arabic, just as the other scriptures were sent in the native language of the tribe they were sent to.

• 39.28. 41.44. If We had made it a Qur’an in a foreign tongue, they (who now reject it) would certainly have said: "If only its communications had been spelled out distinctly and made clear! Why a foreign tongue, and an Arab (to speak it to Arabs)?" Say: "(It is not a Book whose power or purpose is confined by language.) For those who believe, it is a guidance and healing (for their hearts and minds, and all their senses).

Qur’an confirming the other holy scriptures• 3.3. He sends down on you the Book in parts

with the truth, confirming (the Divine origin of, and the truths still contained by) the Revelations prior to it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel

• 46.30. They said: "O our people! We have listened to a Book which has been sent after Moses, confirming (the Divine origin of and the truths that are still contained by) the Revelations prior to it: It guides towards the truth and towards a straight road (in all matters).

Thank you!