Every Decent Work is an Act of Worship

The world is an entity created by God [Allah] for meaningful purposes. He has not created anything without a purpose:

“And we created not the heaven and earth and all that is between them, without purpose!” (Surah Saad, 38:27)

Creation is not for idle sport or play, as the Qur’an states in many Verses. Allah has a serious purpose behind it:

"I have created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me." (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56)

This Verse indicates that God [Allah] created human beings and the jinn in order to worship Him. 

Many people nowadays including some Muslims think that worship is limited to religious rituals only such as prayer, charity and fasting. This rather distorted meaning of worship has no place in Islam. Since the teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of life, all human acts are deemed acts of worship if they are done for Allah Alone and in accordance with His Divine Law and the teachings of His Last Messenger.

Islam appreciates noble motives and honorable intentions behind all acts and abundantly rewards them. The Prophet says:

"Actions are by intentions, and every person will have what he has intended." (Reported by Аl-Вukhaгi and Muslim)

The   two conditions   mentioned above are like a ‘magic wand’, which turns daily lawful practices into great acts of worship. 

If, for instance, one takes   meal  with the intention of  being  in  good  health  to  better   fulfill  one’s obligations  towards  Allah, one‘s  fellow human beings  and oneself in the manner prescribed  by Allah, one will  certainly  receive  great  reward for such  good intention.

Decent  work,  which  does   not  involve  forbidden activities like  cheating  and  deceiving  people ,   is  an act  of  worship;  eating  and  drinking  with  the  intention  to  gain  strength  to worship  Allah better   is  an act  of  worship;   even having intimate  relations with one‘s wife  is an act  of  worship. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) once told his Companions: 

“You will be rewarded even when you are engaged in sexual intercourse [with your wives].”

Astonished, the Companions asked, "How can we get rewarded for satisfying our [sexual] desire?" 'The Prophet (Peace be upon him) asked them, “If you satisfy your desires unlawfully, will you be committing a sin for doing so?”

They replied, "Yes." "Likewise, "He said, “by satisfying it lawfully [with your wives] you will be rewarded for it.” (Reported by Muslim)

Worship is all - inclusive and includes numerous things that many people mistakenly deem insignificant. The Prophet says: 

"Receiving your [Muslim] brother with a smile is a form of charity, Helping a person to load his animal is a form of charity, and putting some water in your neighbour’s bucket is a form of charity.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

“Do not consider any act of goodness insignificant, even if it is receiving your [Muslim] brother with a smile.”(Reported by Al-Bukhari)

"Every act of goodness is in fact an act of charity." (Reported by Аl-Bukhari)

In a nutshell, the concept of worship in Is1am is all-inclusive so long as the two conditions mentioned above are met.

This thought imbues Muslim's heart with great joy when he realizes that all his actions are acts of worship.

This very thought  is bound to help  Muslim to carry out all actions conscientiously in order to win Allah’s Pleasure, whether he is alone or with his superiors because he knows that he is watched at all times by the One Who is the All- Watcher.

Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him.