Consciousness of Worship in Existence

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Allah the Exalted declares in the Qur’an that He created jinn and humankind only to worship Him.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْاِنْسَ اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

“I did not create the jinn and humankind except to worship Me.” [Surah Adh-Dhāriyāt 51:56]

   In this verse, the word “worship” (ʿibādah) is also interpreted as knowing Allah, that is, attaining Maʿrifatullāh (knowledge of Allah). The use of the word “only” (illa) is remarkable—it specifies that the very purpose of creation is worship. This means that everything jinn and humans do throughout their lives must ultimately be oriented toward this purpose.

The Meaning of Worship and Servitude

   Worship is a requirement of being a servant (ʿabd). While the main purpose of creation is worship, fulfilling this purpose consciously is only possible through awareness of servitude (ʿubūdiyyah). Even those who lack this awareness—such as unbelievers or oppressors—unwittingly serve this divine purpose.

The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar (Buhtunnasr), who committed genocide against the Jews, is an example of this.

فَاِذَا جَٓاءَ وَعْدُ اُو۫لٰيهُمَا بَعَثْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادًا لَنَٓا اُو۬ل۪ي بَأْسٍ شَد۪يدٍ فَجَاسُوا خِلَالَ الدِّيَارِۜ وَكَانَ وَعْدًا مَفْعُولًا

“When the time for the first of the two transgressions came, We sent against you Our servants of great might, who ravaged your homes. And the promise was fulfilled.” 

[Surah Al-Isrāʾ 17:5 ]

Awareness of Being a Servant

   Awareness of servitude is the comprehension of one’s own existential reality. A person was once nothing, then was created from nothingness and granted the blessing of existence—followed by countless other blessings, without having given anything in return.

   Human beings were brought into existence without being consulted, by the will of their Creator. Their freedom of choice and will are limited. In life, they are dependent on countless things and have infinite needs. Therefore, they require a being of infinite power who can fulfill all those needs. This is the reality of existence.

   A person truly expresses this reality only by realizing their weakness before infinite power and by fulfilling it with a consciousness of worship. One who understands the nature of their own being attains Maʿrifah—knowledge of the Absolute Being. The divine vicegerency (khilāfah) bestowed upon humanity manifests itself only through worship.

   Thus, the human being, in a mysterious way, is freed from servitude to other created beings and gains power over them. True dignity comes only through servitude to the One worthy of it. Whoever becomes a servant of Allah, everything else becomes a servant to them. Within their weakness, they find power. Like ice melting before the Truth, they become pure water; like a drop joining the ocean, they become the sea itself. Though once nothing, they enter the path of becoming everything.

   One who avoids true servitude, on the other hand, inevitably becomes a servant to transient beings and falls into humiliation.

“Were it not for bowing (in prayer), no head on earth would ever bend.” — Mehmet Âkif Ersoy

The Broad Meaning of Worship

   Worship is not limited to the obligatory acts (farāʾiḍ). Remembering Allah, obeying Him, acting for His sake (ikhlāṣ), and seeking His pleasure—all deeds done with this intention—gain the character of worship.

… وَمَٓا اُمِرُٓوا اِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللّٰهَ مُخْلِص۪ينَ لَهُ الدّ۪ينَ حُنَفَٓاءَ“

Yet they were commanded only to worship Allah, being sincere in their religion and upright (as true monotheists).” [Surah Al-Bayyina 98:5]

The Worship of Other Beings

   In other verses, the Qur’an also refers to the prostration (sujūd) or submissive states of other creatures:

وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ

“The stars and the trees both bow down (in submission).” [Surah Ar-Rahmān 55:6]

   This verse points to another dimension of worship—submitting to the divine laws and fulfilling the duties assigned by Allah.

   All beings in the universe are, in this sense, servants of Allah. Every creature, whether aware of it or not, constantly glorifies Him and fulfills His commands. The entire cosmos is sustained and preserved through this continuous remembrance (dhikr).

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْاَرْضُ وَمَنْ ف۪يهِنَّ …وَاِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ اِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِه۪

“The seven heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, glorify Him. There is nothing that does not exalt Him with praise.” [Surah Al-Isrāʾ 17:44]

May Allah, the Exalted, grant all of humanity the blessing of being true servants to Him.

With peace and blessings.