It is necessary to be a Muslim so that you can attain happiness in this world and in the Hereafter, while living peacefully and joyfully. One who has faith and does his worships is called a Muslim. Having faith means to believe in six certain principles and all of the commandments and prohibitions. Allahu ta’ala is pleased with those who are true Muslims. A true Muslim is loved by Allahu ta’ala. Being a true Muslim requires holding the faith communicated by the Ahl-as-Sunna
[1] savants, and to worshipping correctly and sincerely.
Allahu ta’ala has promised that He will love such people, that He will inspire fayds and nurs into their hearts in the world and that in the Here-after He will give thawab (blessings) as a reward for the worships performed correctly and sincerely.
Worshipping means doing the commands (fards) and taqwa means avoiding the prohibitions (harams). Performing an act of worship correctly requires learning how it is to be done, and performing it by following the instructions you have learned. Ikhlas means doing every worship for the sake of Allahu ta’ala only. Worshipping Allahu ta’ala is done either by giving away one’s property or by worshipping physically. For example, performing pious and charitable deeds, saving Muslims from trouble, remembering Allahu ta’ala, and asking for forgiveness (tawba) are all forms of worship.
There is no ikhlas (sincerity) but riya (hypocrisy) in the worship which is done to obtain property, rank, respect or fame. Such worship is not rewarded with blessings. It will be a sin and a cause for being tormented. Dark stains develop in the hearts of those who commit harams or bid’a (heresy), and also in the hearts of those who are the friends or neighbours of disbelievers or la-Madhhabi individuals.
GLOSSARY:
[1]
Ahl as-Sunna (wa’l-Jama’a): the true pious Muslims who follow as-Sahabat al-kiram. These are called Sunni Muslims. A Sunni Muslim adapts himself to one of the four Madhhabs. These madhhabs are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali.
