Islam - Culture Of Ibaadat

[SAFAH]

Bismillah.

 

 

ISLAM - CULTURE OF IBAADAT

 

Islam is a culture of Ibaadat. Ibaadat is not confined to spiritual affairs. Every mundane act and activity of the Muslim has to be brought within the purview of

Ibaadat which is the original purpose of man's creation. The Qur'aan Majeed says:

"I have not created jin and man except that they worship Me."

 

The Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) regiments the daily life of the Mu'min in a way which transforms his entire day into Ibaadat. From the morning when his eyes first open, he is required by the Sunnah to recite a dua; when he enters the toilet, he has to recite a dua; when he emerges from the toilet, a dua; when he dresses, a dua has to be recited; when he looks in the mirror, a dua has to be recited; when he commences to eat, a dua has to be recited. In short, when commencing, ending and during the course of an act, any and every act, the Sunnah requires the Mu'min to recite a dua. Special short duas for the numerous occasions and moments of life have been instructed by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

 

Then besides these duas, the Mu'min is required to abandon his mundane activities and occupations five times a day to go into seclusion for Salaat. He has to observe the introductory measures such as wudhu for Salaat. Besides the five Fardh (compulsory) Salaat, he is required to perform Ishraaq Salaat, Dhuha Salaat, Awwaabeen Salaat and Tahajjud Salaat. In addition, he is required to perform Tahyatul Wudhu immediately after having made wudhu or ghusl. o­n entering the Musjid, Tahyatul Musjid has to be executed. Then there are the other occasional Salaats such as Istikhaarah, Taubah Salaat, Salaatul Khauf, Salaat o­n the occasion of an eclipse of the sun and moon, Taraaweeh Salaat, Salaatul Tasbeeh, Salaatul Haajaat, Eid Salaat and Janazah Salaat.

 

Most of these acts are daily routines. But, this is not all. The Sunnah requires the Mu'min to spend daily some time in Tilaawat of the Qur'aan. In addition to his quota of tilaawat in the morning, there are lengthy Masnoon Surahs to be recited after each Salaat, viz., Surah Yaaseen after Fajr, Surah Fatah after Zuhr, Surah Naba' after Asr, Surah Waaqiah after Maghrib and Surah Mulk after Isha.

 

To complete the list, is the constant and perpetual Thikr commanded by the Qur'aan:

"(The People of intelligence are) those who make the Thikr of Allah while standing, sitting and reclining...."

 

Many verses and ahadith exhort and command perpetual Thikr. The Rooh of the Mu'min can develop correctly o­nly by means of perpetual Thikr, all day long, in all walks of life. o­ne does not require wudhu or any other special condition for perpetual thikr. But, such thikr is the Purpose of life o­n earth.

 

When the Mu'min coconsciously endeavours to reduce his worldly life into subservience of Islam, he will then strive to comply to the Culture of Ibaadat which the Sunnah actually is. When his heart becomes alive with perpetual Thikr, he will becomes conscious of his transgressions, failings and defects. When this realisation dawns o­n him, he will make an attempt to purify himself morally and seek ways of spiritual elevation. He will then search for the Saaliheen who can guide him along the path to Allah Ta'ala. It is for this reason that the Qur'aan commands:

"And, join the company of the Saadiqeen (i.e. the Auliya)."

 

"The Majlis" Vol 12 No 3