The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 287
VIII - Expansion of Preaching 287 the true spirit of worship. As a matter of fact, some go so far as to say that since the actual essence of worship is the spirit, there is no need to employ an apparent form or figure to it and the concentration of one’s heart should suffice. Moreover, that by appointing an apparent form to worship, and then by excessively stressing it, Islām has erased the actual essence. These are the allegations that are being leveled against Islāmic forms of worship, but if one contemplates further, this objection is completely useless and empty. In other words, not only is the notion incorrect, that since worship is the concentration of one’s heart, there is no need for any form (apparent figure and outward appearance). It is also incorrect to assert that whilst excessively stressing apparent form and figure in its worship, Islām has not given any attention to the actual essence. Both of these notions are proven to be categorically false and without foundation in light of Islāmic teachings. First we take up the allegation that: is it necessary to employ a physical figure and form in the act of worship or not? It should be understood that the notion suggesting that since the actual relationship of worship is with a state of heart, and for this reason there is no need for an apparent form (figure and outwardly appearance), is a completely ignorant and foolish idea. Firstly, if the body is a creation of God, then it is also responsible to partake in the worship of God, and to consider it exempt or excluded from the worship of its Creator and Master, is not lawful in any way. The human body, all of its organs and all of their associated faculties, are the creation of God. Therefore, on account of its being a creation of God, if the obligation of worship is levied upon the soul, then there is no reason for the body to remain exempt. This is why Allāh the Exalted states in the Holy Qur’ān that: Meaning, “A true Muslim is one who spends out of all the faculties and powers, which God has bestowed upon him, whether they be physical or spiritual, material or immaterial, and offers our due right from among all those things which we have endowed upon him. ” 1 Hence, Islām does not teach that worship is only due upon the soul, and that the body is free from responsibility. Rather, in the spirit of Islāmic teachings, both the body and soul must fulfill this duty, and rationality also 1 Al-Baqarah (2:4)