بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
It has been told in the will of Luqman (Peace of Allah be upon him) that he, advising his son in his will, said:
“Ya Buneyya La Takununnad Deeku Akyas Minka Fainnahu Yunaadi Bil Ashaari Wa Anta Na’imun.”
“My son! Do not let the rooster be more intelligent than you are. It shouldn’t happen that he (i.e. the rooster) gets up at the last part of the night to make proclamations [for Tahajjud prayers and remembers his Lord] while you keep sleeping [in a deep sleep of heedlessness, carelessness, and ignorance].”
This reality is made clear in the following verses (of poetry):
“Laqad Hatafet Fi Junhil Laili Hamamatun
‘Ala Funanin Wahnun Wa Inni Na’imun
Kazabtu Wa Baitil Allahi Lau Kuntu ‘Aashiqan
Lama Sabaqatni Bil Buqa’il Hamaaimun
Wa Az’amu Anni Haa’imun Zu Sababatin
Lahu Bi Wa La Abki Wa Tabkil Bahaaimun.”
“At night, the dove sitting on the branch [of a tree] is calling on [to its Lord]
While I am in a deep sleep
By the Lord of the House of Allah (Ka’aba)! I am a liar! If I had been a true lover [of Allah]
Then the doves would not have won over me in weeping [in the pain of separation from my Beloved (Allah)!
Alas! I do not even wet my eyes [with tears] while claiming to love [my Beloved Lord!]
While the animals keep weeping [in their love for their Creator].”
My dear beloved son! Our purpose is that you should know what obedience and worship are.
Obedience and worship are to follow the Shari’ah (law) of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then whether the commandments are for performing the righteous deeds or for restraining oneself from evil or whether [the commandments] are for following his words or deeds, in other words, whether you do something or not do something, whether you say something or not say something, all these must be in accordance with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
If you say something then say it according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
If you keep silent then be silent according to the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
If you do something or do not do something then do it in accordance with the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
If you do something and you consider it an act of worship but you do not do it to obey the commandment of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then this will not be counted as worship but instead will be counted as a sin even though it might be prayer or fasting.
Do you not know that if someone fasts on the [first] day of the two Eids (i.e. two foremost Islamic celebrations) or on the days of Hajj (pilgrimage) then this person will be committing sin? Even though it is fasting but since it’s not done in accordance with the commandment of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that’s why this person is being sinful.
Similarly, if someone performs prayers at a forbidden time (e.g. after Asr [late afternoon] prayer but before sunset or after Fajr [dawn] prayer but before sometime after sunrise, etc.) or at an illegally occupied place then he/she will be called Athim (sinner) and Fasiq (law breaker). Even though it apparently looks like [a legitimate act of] worship but since it was not done in accordance with the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), it is not correct.
If a husband has relations with his wife then it is not a sin even though it apparently looks bad. However, since it is done in accordance with the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) therefore it is Halal (permissible or within legal limits). Therefore, it is known [now] that worship is the second name (synonym) of obedience (i.e. worship means obedience).
Similarly, prayers and fasting are counted as worship when they are performed in accordance with the [Divine] guidelines. Therefore, my dear beloved son! All of your words and deeds should be in accordance with the commandments of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). That is, whatever actions you perform and conversations you have should be in accordance with the Shari’ah (Divine law), because whatever the knowledge and actions of [God’s] creations, not in accordance with the Shari’ah (Divine law), are clearly misguided and keep them (i.e. creations/human beings primarily) away from the truth. This is the reason why Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) abrogated all [religious] learning from the previous eras.
(excerpts from translated text of Majmu’a Rasail Imam Ghazali)
May Allah make us among His truthful servants. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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