Chapter 1.1 – Worship

Chapter 1.1 – Worship

Introduction

In this chapter, you will be equipped with an understanding of worship. You will appreciate the Islamic teachings on worship. This will enable you to worship with purpose.

Using the different forms of worship, you will know that Allah created humans to worship Him. You will understand the importance of worship to a Muslim in life.

This chapter will also enable you to read and learn some of the Ayahs (verses) in the Quran that explain worship together with the Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.

What is worship?

Have you ever asked yourself why God created human beings? Do human beings always do what God expects them to do?

Islam does not expect one to relate to humans but for purposes of our understanding, let us relate worship to respecting people.

Activity 1. 1.1 Explaining the meaning of worship
In groups,
1. Do you have any people who you respect in life? Mention them.
2.Share with others how you show respect to the people mentioned in 1 above.
3.Describe what is happening in Figure 1.1.1.
4.How do you respect God? Share views of what you do to show respect to God.
5.Write In your notebooks important points and show them to your teacher,

Just as there are people in your life whom you respect and honour, show respect and honour to Allah as well.

Things that Muslims do to honour, respect and show love for Allah is what we call WORSHIP
Worship means showing respect for Allah, There are both visible and invisible things that Muslims do to show respect for Allah.

Can you mention them?

Prayer as an example of a form of worship
When Muslims talk about Ibadat, they refer to praying, fasting, giving zakat. obeying parents, being
kind to people, among others.
It is believed that on the Day of Judgement, Allah will first look at prayer before He looks at any other deed. Muslims are therefore expected to understand prayer as a form of worship.

Activity 1.1.2 Studying and responding to worship
In groups,
a) Can you do what the boy is doing?
b) How many times do you do that in a day?

2. Demonstrate the performance of prayer.
3. Use prayer as a form of worship to generate reasons why Muslims worship Allah.
   Do you know the pillars of Islam? Do you know that swallah is the second pillar of Islam. It protects an individual from all sorts of trouble and problems.
4. It provides them with chances of direct communication with Allah five times a day. How many prayers do you know? Can you

write them down. Do you perform your prayers properly according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?

Islamic Teaching about Worship
A believer is required to submit himself completely to the will of Allah.
The Quran instructed Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
“Say: Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds. No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit to His
will. [suratAl-An’am 6:162-163] also include Surat Baqarah 2:2—3, A1 Nisa 4:59.
Do you know that there are other Quran quotations telling Muslims about worship?
Where else does the Quran talk about worshipping?

Activity 1.1.3 Reading and answering Ouranic teaching on worship

Mustafa has a friend called Patrick who wants to convert to Islam.
He wants to know about worshipping Allah. using surat A1-Adam guide Mustafa to explain to Patrick how prayer is an important form of worship to Muslims. Help him to interpret verse surat Al-An•am 6:162—163.
You have learnt about prayer as an example of worship. You should now find out the righteous things that Muslims do in your community that are ways of worshipping Allah and you need to find out the importance of worshipping Allah.
Do you know why Muslims use swallah as worship? To most Muslims, when they pray, they feel that they have worshipped Allah. You should now understand what prayer is. Swallah is one of the ways through
which Muslims make duas.
Do you always pray when you are going to bed? How about when you wake up? Do you always pray when you are going to eat? How about when you are going to the toilet? Do you always pray for the needy people? What about your parents? How about when you meet a sick animal? You should know that people and animals all need prayer in life.

Activity 1.1.4 Discussing and writing the value of communicating to Allah through swallah
In groups,
I. Discuss and write down in your notebook the benefits of prayer at school, home, and community.

2. Share the benefits of prayers with the teacher and your classmates.
   Do you know that swallah is a channel of communication through which man relates to Allah? It is also a way of seeking favour and mercy from Him. Much as Allah cannot be seen with our physical eyes, people feel that it is good and important to tell Allah what they need. Do you also
   know that these words spoken during swallah can be learnt in Darasa?
   How often do you attend Darasa?

Activity 1.1.5 Reading the hadith and answering the questions that follow
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “When any one of you stands to pray, he is communicating with his Lord, so let him pay attention to how he speaks to Him.”
Swallah is so important including communicating to Allah. Allah says in the Quran Surat A1-Baqara 2: 238—239
“Guard strictly (Five obligatory) As-Salat (the prayer) especially the middle salat. And stand before Allah with obedience (and do not speak to others during the salat (prayer).

And if you fear (an enemy), perform Salat (prayer) on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the salat in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).

Prayer shields against evil. Allah says in Quran Surat A1-Ankabut 29:45
“and perform Salat verily, As salat prevents from A1-Fahsha (indecency) and A1-Munkar (evils) …”

Questions
1. Identify the value of worship to a Muslim.

2. Mention any other hadith you know about the value of worship.
3. Share your answers with the whole class.
   Other Forms of Worship
   Du’a — as a way of Worship
   Activity 1.1.6 Studying and describing du’a
   In groups study Figure 1.1.3 and answer the questions that follow:

1.Describe what you see in the picture:
2. Describe the kind of worship in the picture.

That is a du’a in Islam. Unlike swallah which is performed at a prescribed time, du’a can be said at any time. But what does the above du’a mean?
Activity 1.1.7 Reading and discussing the value of du’a
In groups, read the following passage of worship and answer the questions that follow:
OhA/lah! The Sustainer of Mankind! Remove the illness, cure the disease. You are the One Who cures. There is no cure except Your cure. Grant us a cure that leaves no illness or pain.

1. When is the du’a above recited?
2. Discuss the importance of du’a in the lives of Muslims.

It is important to keep praying. Even in the most difficult times like Illness. Muslims are expected to pray. You have concluded a study on du’a for the sick.

How many du’as do you know in life? If you know a
few, you need to learn more. There are du’as for entering the toilet, eating, getting out of the toilet and many others.

Activity 1.1.8 Researching and discussing about worshipping Allah

You have already learnt about worshipping. Use the internet or read other books or consult an elder to find out why Muslims are supposed to worship only one God who is Allah.

Discuss the things that show that one worships Allah and those that show that someone does not worship Allah.
Some young children may not be sure why they worship. As children grow, they need to know the reasons why they worship. I believe that you already know that prayer is supposed to be said by everyone.

What you have learnt about those pictures in Figures 1.1.4 — 1.1.6 are some forms of worship in Islam.

When a Muslim does all of them then it is automatic that he or she believes in the Oneness of Allah and
Muhammad as His Messenger.

You will learn about the Oneness of Allah and accepting Muhammad as His Messenger and last prophet in Subchapter 1.2.