This article will examine the three types of worship.
Ulama Institute #1
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With regard to the manner in which a person may engage in worship, there are three types of worship. They are worship through:
1.The Heart
2.Words
3.Actions
- Intention is the reason behind all actions. It is why people do all things, including acts of worship. The intention of a person is a type of worship and this happens in the heart. This is because the intention is made in the heart. The intention in the heart is the most important type of worship. We know this because Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said:
( البخاري ومسلم ) ( إنما الأعمالُ بِالتَيَاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئ ما نوى)
“The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will be rewarded according to what he has intended.” (Al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
- There are some people who do certain actions, but in their hearts they do not want to do them. Some people fast, but they do not want to. Some people perform Salah, but they do not want to. They just do it so they do not look bad in the eyes of the people. These people show off and will be punished for what they do.
The Prophet ﷺ said in the hadeeth:
“Our Lord Allah will lay bare His Shin, and then all the believers, men and women, will prostrate themselves before Him, but there will remain those who use to prostrate in the world for showing off and for gaining good reputation. Such a person will try to prostrate but his back will become a single bone” (Al-Bukhaari)
- The second type of worship is things that people say. The prime example is the shahaadah that all Muslims pronounce. Saying it is an act of worship as it declares the faith of the person. In many ahaadeeth, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned people to be careful of what they say. People can say good things and bad things, but they will be rewarded for the good things they say. Examples are phrases like ‘Subhaan Allah’ and ‘Alhamdu lillaah.”
- The last type of worship is in the form of actions. It is the worship done via bodily actions. If people do good things for the sake of Allah ﷻ , all those actions would be classed as acts of worship. However, bad actions are not acts of worship. Things like stealing, fighting and smoking are all bad actions. People who do these actions will be punished for them. Therefore, people should stay away from them. Unlike the heart, worship in words and actions are not hidden. However, they are controlled by the heart. If the heart is pure the outward actions will also be pure.
What we learn from the lesson:
- There are three types of worship.
- We should check our intentions before doing anything.
“Discussion:”
- Which type of worship is the most important type ?
