Shaikh-ul-Islam Mawlana Abdol-Hamid urged on worshipping Allah and imitation of Islamic Shari’ah in all aspects counting ‘avoidance from sins’ the first grade of faith and highest worship.
Talking to thousands of worshippers in Zahedan on 23 May, 2014, he said, “Many of Muslims think worshipping Allah is limited to establishment of prayers, fasting and Hajj; no doubt these are worships but ‘Ebadah’ has a much larger meaning. It includes whatever is related to the divine commands and directions of Islamic Shari’ah. A Hadith of the prophet suggests faith has more than seventy branches and all of them are worships. Faith, Eiman, is like a strong tree that has numerous branches. Modesty is one of the highest branches of faith.”
Khateeb of Sunnis went on saying, “Sincerity is a very important condition in worshipping Allah. We must worship Allah the Almighty to get the pleasure of Him not praise and admiration of people. If someone worships Allah to get attention of people and their plaudit, in fact, s/he doesn’t worship Allah but his/her own ego. So good deeds would be accepted if they are carried out for the sake of Allah as the Almighty says in the Noble Qur’an: «وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ», (While they were not ordered but to worship Allah, making their submission exclusive for Him with no deviation.)
The eminent Islamic scholar added more, “The first grade of faith is leaving sins behind. It is the highest worship to avoid sins and take care of piety. If somebody offers prayers, observes fast and carries out other worships but in the same time crosses the red lines and commits sins, s/he has not done the highest worship. Many sins void the positive effects of worships and even eliminate them.”
The rector of Darululoom Zahedan argued “discourtesy” was one of the main factors which uprooted good deeds. He said, “The Almighty says in the Qur’an: «يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ», (O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and be not loud when speaking to him, as you are loud when speaking to one another, lest your good deeds should become void while you are not aware.); [49: 2] It proves discourtesy to the holy site of the beloved prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, voids good deeds. In the same way, impoliteness and insult of prophets, saints and Islamic sanctities destroy good deeds. I would like to call on you if you cannot admire and praise the Companions and Households of the prophet, peace be upon him, at least avoid from discourtesy; instead respect them.”
Alluding to the importance of worship in the months of Rajab and Sha’ban, Shaikh Abdol-Hamid said, “Worship Allah as much as you can in Rajab and Sha’ban by observing fast and other kinds of worship. The prophet, peace & prayers be upon him, used to observe fast in Sha’ban a lot. Taking care of the rights of Allah and His creatures is also an important worship; each tool of worship has its pacific fruits and effects. So try to carry out different kind of worships.”
He reminded the audience to worship Allah Almighty by meditation and thinking. All should ponder why the Almighty created them; what is the aim? Certainly there is a rationale behind every creature; but the purpose of jinni and human beings’ creation is to worship Allah. So, all Muslims must prepare themselves for the Accountability Day.
Khateeb of Sunnis in Zahedan expressed his regret over ‘callousness’ of some people who run away from Islamic meetings and advices of good people. The Noble Qur’an termed the people who do not accept advices ‘callous’: «فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَى*سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخْشَى*وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا الْأَشْقَى* الَّذِي يَصْلَى النَّارَ الْكُبْرَى», (So, extend advice (to people) if advice is useful. The one who fears (Allah) will observe the advice, and it will be avoided by the most wretched one who will enter the Biggest Fire); [87: 9]
“Some people think they can worship Allah only by heart and there is no need to do anything by parts of the body; it is a wrong view. Allah should be worshipped by acts and heart; our outward and inward sides should be in accordance with the Shari’ah,” he further said.
Urging on human rights, Mawlana Abdol-Hamid said, “Many of us violate the rights of others and do not care it. While taking care of others’ rights is an important branch of Islam and faith. The prophet, peace be upon him, said that true Muslim is he who does not hurt other Muslims either with his hands or his tongue. If anyone commits cruelty, he or she will meet the fruits of his/her works in this world before death. It is not bearable for Allah to see violation of the rights of His creatures.”
At the end of his speech, he called on the worshippers to take part in the graduation ceremonies of Islamic schools and seminaries and get benefits of them.