Who do Muslims worship?

 

Who do Islams worship?

Praise be to Allaah. 

Before
answering, we would like to express our appreciation for your interest,
at such a young age, in the religion of Islam. May Allaah open the door
for you to find much blessing through your asking this question, and
decree for you guidance such as you have never thought of. Allaah [the
Arabic name for the One True God – Translator] says in the Qur’aan [the
Holy Book of Islam] (interpretation of the meaning):

“This is the Guidance of Allaah with which He guides
whomsoever He will of His slaves…” [al-An’aam 6:88]

“And
whomsoever Allaah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam…” [al-An’aam
6:125] 

With regard to this important
question – who do the Muslims worship? – the answer is to be found in
the Holy Qur’aan, which is the Scripture of Islam, and in the words
of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) who received Revelation
from his Lord. 

Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“In the name of Allaah, the
Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praises and thanks be to Allaah,
the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists), the
Most Beneficient, the Most Merciful, the Only Owner (and the Only Ruling
Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e., the Day of Resurrection). You
(Alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help (for each and every
thing).” [al-Faatihah 1:1-5] 

“O
mankind! Worship your Lord (Allaah), Who has created you and those before
you so that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:21] 

“Such
is Allaah, your Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the
Creator of all things. So worship Him (Alone), and He is the Wakeel
(Trustee, Disposer of affairs, Guardian) over all things.”[al-An’aam
6:102] 

“And
your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be
dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age
in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them
but address them in terms of honour.” [al-Isra’ 17:23] 

Muslim
worship Allaah [the One True God] whom all the Prophets worshipped.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya’qoob
[Jacob]? When he said unto his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?’
They said, ‘We shall worship your God, the God of your fathers, Ibraaheem
[Abraham], Ismaa’eel [Ishmael] and Is-haaq [Isaac], One God, and to
Him we submit (in Islam).” [al-Baqarah 2:133] 

The Muslims worship Allaah
and call others who follow different religions to worship Allaah Alone,
as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘O People of the Scripture
[Jews and Christians]: come to a word that is just between us and you,
that we worship none but Allaah, and we associate no partners with Him,
and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allaah.’ Then,
if they turn away, say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’” [Aal ‘Imraan
3:64] 

It is Allaah Alone Whom Nooh
[Noah] (peace be upon him) called his people to worship, as Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Indeed, We sent Nooh [Noah] to his people and
he said: ‘O my people! Worship Allaah! You have no other god but Him.
Certainly, I fear for you the torment of a Great Day!.’” [al-A’raaf
7:59] 

It is Allaah Alone whom the
Messiah [Jesus] (peace be upon him) called people to worship, as Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Surely they have disbelieved who say: ‘Allaah
is the Messiah [Jesus] son of Maryam [Mary].’ But the Messiah said:
‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily,
whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden
Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the zaalimoon
(polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers.” [al-Maa’idah 5:73] 

Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“And (remember) when Allaah will say (on the Day
of Resurrection): ‘O ‘Eesa [Jesus], son of Maryam [Mary]! Did you say
unto men: ‘Worship me and my mother as two gods besides Allaah?’ He
will say: ‘Glory be to You! It was not for me to say what I had no right
(to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely have known it. You
know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours.
You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden and unseen.

Never did I say to them aught except what You
(Allaah) did command me to say: “Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.”
And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when You
took me up, You were the Watcher over them, and You are a Witness to
all things.’”[al-Maa’idah 5:116-117] 

When Allaah spoke to His Prophet
Moosa [Moses] (peace be upon him), He said (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, I am Allaah! None has the right to be
worshipped but I, so worship Me, and perform al-Salaah [prayer] for
My Remembrance.”[Ta-Ha 20:14] 

Allaah
commanded His Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as follows (interpretation
of the meaning):

“Say [O Muhammad]: ‘O mankind! If you are in doubt
as to my religion (Islam), then (know that) I will never worship those
whom you worship, besides Allaah. But I worship Allaah Who causes you
to die, I am commanded to be one of the believers.” [Yoonus 10:104] 

It
is Him Alone, with no partner or associate, Whom the angels worship
and do not worship anyone or anything besides Him, as He says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on
earth. And those who are near Him (i.e., the angels) are not too proud
to worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship).”[al-Anbiya’ 21:19] 

Everything
that is worshipped instead of Allaah can neither bring benefit nor cause
harm, it can neither create nor provide. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad, to mankind); ‘How do you worship
besides Allaah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit
you? But it is Allaah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.’” [al-Maa’idah
5:76]

“You worship besides Allaah only idols, and you only
invent falsehood. Verily, those whom you worship besides Allaah have
no power to give you provision, so seek your provision from Allaah (Alone),
and worship Him (Alone), and be grateful to Him. To Him (Alone) you
will be brought back.” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:17]

 Having
explained this, we must complete the topic by asking: why should we
worship Allaah Alone with no partner or associate? The answer is as
follows: 

Firstly:
because there is nothing and nobody else in the universe that deserves
to be worshipped, for Allaah is the Creator and Sustainer, Who has created
the universe out of nothing and has bestowed so many blessings upon
us. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So glorify Allaah, when you come up to the evening
[i.e., offer the Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Isha’ (night) prayers], and when
you enter the morning [I.e., offer the Fajr (morning) prayers].

And His is all the praise and thanks in the heavens
and the earth, and (glorify Him) in the afternoon [i.e., offer ‘Asr
(mid-afternoon) prayer] and when you come up to the time when the day
begins to decline [i.e., offer the Zuhr (mid-day) prayer].

He brings out the living from the dead, and brings
out the dead from the living. And He revives the earth after its death,
and thus shall you be brought out (resurrected).

And among His Signs is this, that He created you
(Adam) from dust, and then [Hawwa (Eve) from Adam’s rib, then his offspring
from the semen, and], - behold you are human beings scattered!

And among His Signs is this, that He created for
you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and
He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed
signs for a people who reflect.

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens
and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Verily
in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge.

And among His Signs is the sleep that you take by
night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are
indeed signs for a people who listen.

And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning,
by way of fear and hope, and He sends down water (rain) from the sky,
and therewith revives the earth after its death. Verily, in that are
indeed signs for a people who understand.

And among His Signs is that the heaven and the earth
stand by His Command, then afterwards when He will call you by single
call, behold, you will come out from the earth (ie.e, from your graves,
for reckoning and recompense).

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the
earth. All are obedient to Him.

And He it is Who originates the creation, then will
repeat it (after it has perished), and this is easier for Him. His is
the highest description (i.e., none has the right to be worshipped but
He, and there is nothing comparable unto Him) in the heavens and in
the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.”[al-Room 30: 17-27] 

Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the
heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the
sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight?
It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there
any god with Allaah? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to
Him)!

Is not he (better than you gods) Who has made the
earth as a fixed abode, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has
placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two
seas (of salt and sweet water). Is there any god with Allaah? Nay, but
most of them know not.

Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to
the distressed one, when He calls Him, and Who removes the evil, generations
after generations. Is there any god with Allaah? Little is it that you
remember!

Is not He (better than your gods) Who guides you
in the darkness of the land and the sea, and Who sends the winds as
heralds of glad tidings, going before His mercy (rain)? Is there any
god with Allaah? High Exalted be Allaah above all that they associate
as partners (to Him)!

Is not He (better than your so-called gods) Who originates
creation, and shall thereafter repeat it, and Who provides for you from
heaven and earth? Is there any god with Allaah? Say: ‘bring forth your
proofs, if you are truthful’

Say: ‘None on the heavens and the earth knows the
unseen except Allaah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.’”

[al-Naml 27:60-65] 

So
is there anyone or anything besides Allaah that deserves to be worshipped? 

Secondly:
Allaah did not create us except to worship Him, as He says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans
except they should worship Me (Alone).”[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56] 

Thirdly:
No one will be saved on the Day of Resurrection except those who used
to worship Allaah truly and sincerely. After death Allaah will resurrect
His slaves and call them to account, rewarding or punishing them according
to their deeds. No one will be saved on that day except for those who
used to worship Allaah Alone. The rest will be gathered into a Hell,
a terrible fate! The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), was asked by his Companions:
“Will we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?” He told them:

“Do you doubt that
you can see the sun and the moon when the sky is clear?” We [his Companions]
said, “No.” He said, “Then you should not doubt that you will see your
Lord on that Day, you will see Him as you see them (the sun and moon).”
Then he said, “A caller will call out, ‘Let every people go to that
which they used to worship.’ So the worshippers of the cross will go
with their cross, the worshippers of idols will go with their idols
and the worshippers of every god will go with their gods, until there
will be left those who used to worship Allaah, whether they were righteous
or otherwise, and a few of the People of the Book [Jews and Christians].
Then Hell will be brought and shown to them as if it is a mirage. It
will be said to the Jews, ‘What did you used to worship?’ They will
say, ‘We used to worship ‘Uzayr, the son of God.’ It will be said, ‘You
have lied. Allaah does not have a wife or son. What do you want?’ They
will say, ‘We want something to drink.’ It will be said to them, ‘Drink!’
and they will fall into Hell. Then it will be said to the Christians,
‘What did you used to worship?’ They will say, ‘We used to worship the
Messiah, the son of God.’ It will be said, ‘You have lied. Allaah does
not have a wife or son. What do you want?’ They will say, ‘We want something
to drink.’ It will be said to them, ‘Drink!’ and they will fall into
Hell. Then there will be left those who used to worship Allaah, whether
they were righteous or otherwise. It will be said to them, ‘What are
you waiting for? All the people have gone.’ They will say, ‘We have
separated from them and we need Him more today. We heard a caller saying
that every people should follow that which they used to worship, so
we are waiting for our Lord.’ He will say, ‘Al-Jabbaar [the Compeller,
i.e., Allaah] will come…’ And He will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will
say, ‘You are our Lord,’ but none will speak to Him except the Prophets…
then every believer will prostrate to Him.” (Reported
by al-Bukhaari, no. 6886). These
believers are the people of Paradise on whom shall be no fear neither
shall they grieve, and they will dwell therein for ever. 

We
hope that this matter has now become clear. In conclusion we can say
nothing except that which Allaah has said (interpretation of the meaning):

“Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for
the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes stray, then he goes astray
to his own loss…” [al-Isra’ 17:15] 

Peace
be upon him who follows the guidance.