What is ʿibādah (worship)?

ʿIbādah is a comprehensive term that encompasses everything that Allāh loves and is pleased with, whether statements or actions, outward or inward.¹ Obedience to Allāh by carrying out what He commands is an act of worship, just as abstaining from what He forbids is also an act of worship. A sincere intention can transform an ordinary permissible action into an act of worship. That is, if any act is accompanied by a sincere intention to seek the pleasure of Allāh, even if it is permissible or habitual, it becomes an act of worship. Hence, if a person sleeps, eats, drinks, exercises, or does anything else with the intention of drawing closer to Allāh, it is considered an act of worship. In other words, sleeping at night in order to strive during the day to earn one’s livelihood, eating with the intention of gaining strength for acts of obedience, and strengthening one’s body to serve one’s family and others are all acts of worship.² Inviting people to worship Allāh alone was the mission of all the Prophets and Messengers throughout human history: {We surely sent a messenger to every community, saying, “Worship Allāh and shun false gods”} (Qurʾān 16:36). The right of Allāh over His servants is that they should worship Him alone and associate no partners with Him:{And why should I not worship the One Who has originated me} (Qurʾān 36:22). It was narrated that Muʿāḏ ibn Jabal [may Allāh be pleased with him] said: “While I was riding behind the Prophet (PBUH), with nothing between me and him except the rear of the saddle, he said, ‘Do you know what Allāh’s right over His servants is?’ I replied, ‘Allāh and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘The right of Allāh over His servants is that they should worship Him and not associate anything with Him.’ … He said, ‘Do you know what the servants’ right over Allāh is if they do that?’ I replied, ‘Allāh and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘The right of the servants over Allāh is that He will not punish them.’”³ Allāh has the exclusive right to be worshipped. Again, worship encompasses all the outward and inward actions of a Muslim, including every act of obedience, such as prayer, fasting, obligatory charity, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, the remembrance of Allāh, and even ordinary daily activities, if performed with the intention of seeking the pleasure of Allāh alone through them. The comprehensive nature of Islam means that one’s entire life can be an act of worship, as long as one’s ultimate aim is to please Allāh: {Say, “Surely my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are all for Allāh—Lord of all worlds. He has no partner. So I am commanded, and so I am the first to submit”} (Qurʾān 6:162–163).