Life and Teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
3. The Concept of Worship in Islam
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blessings. Faith, the most important of all is, in essence, belief in
the truth of divine realities.
Prayer is an exercise in physical and mental prostration before
God, aimed at banishing all notions of personal greatness. Fasting
teaches one to be steadfast in one’s trust of God. Charity entails
the recognition of others’ claims upon one, so that one shall not
forfeit one’s own share in God’s bounty. The Pilgrimage serves to
unite God’s servants around their Maker.
THE SPIRIT OF FAITH
One is required to testify to one’s faith, in the oneness of God
and the prophethood of Muhammad. But its spirit lies in its
acceptance. Through this article of faith a man accepts God and all
His attributes. He also accepts that God sent Muhammad, may
peace be upon him, to this world as the eternal guide for all
mankind. If this reality reaches one’s heart, it becomes a part of
one’s being. One’s heart opens to the truth and reality.
There are seven things, which are essential for a Muslim to
believe in. These come under the heading of
Iman Mufassal
, a
detailed declaration of faith. They are to believe in one God, in His
angels, in His revealed Books, in all of His messengers, in the Last
Day (the Day of Judgement), in Taqdir (the doctrine of
predestination which means that everything good or bad is decided
by God) and in the Life after Death.
