Five Benefits of Worship

“Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research is a research institute which aims to instill conviction and inspire contribution based on mainstream Islamic texts. We always hear about the importance of worshipping God, and the responsibility every human has to worship Him alone. Allah says in an important and oft-quoted verse of the Qur’an that,

“I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Qur’an 51:56)

However, it is also a solace to those who find worshipping Allah difficult that there numerous great blessings to be gained if one does so. These blessings can only be fully gained through worship, and are essential for every human who wishes to live a fulfilling life. Here are 5 of those blessings that we can remember in the times that worshipping Allah becomes difficult.

1. Worship is required for inner peace and self-actualization.

Every soul has a restless craving for spiritual fulfillment. By doing dhikr and obeying Allah, our spirits flourish. The Prophet ﷺ said,

“The difference between the one who remembers his Lord (God) and the one who does not remember his Lord is the difference between the living and the dead.”

2. Worship is liberating.

Ibn Taymiyyah said,

“The real prisoner is the one whose heart is locked away from its Lord, the Most High and the real captive is the one held captive by his desires.”

Worshipping God empowers you to enjoy the material world without being enslaved by it.

3. Worship forms the foundation of morality.

When you see yourself as a servant of God and recognize that moral rules come from Him, your values, responsibilities, and behavior become more consistent and you worship the One who made you capable of doing good.

4. Worship refreshes faith.

The heart is inherently unstable, prone to forgetting and being agitated. Daily salah, wudhu, and dhikr rinse away the stains of the heart and keep it alive and illuminated.

5. Worship harmonizes humans with the universe.

The entire universe was created to be obedient to God and to serve human beings, so humans can actualize worship. When we voluntarily conform to God’s will, we mirror the entire universe involuntarily conforming to God’s will, and create a harmony that benefits all of humanity. May Allah make us all of those who truly worship only Him. Read more in “Why Does God Ask People to Worship Him?” by Mohammad Elshinawy