Athar al-Ibadat fi Hayat al-Muslim
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- Dār al-Mughnī
Athar al-Ibadat fi Hayat al-Muslim (The Impact of Acts of Worship on the Life of a Muslim) is a treatise by the Saudi Islamic scholar Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad (b. 1353 AH / 1934 CE) that examines the spiritual, moral, and social effects of Islamic acts of worship in both this worldly life and the hereafter .
Origin and Scope
The work originated as a lecture delivered over the telephone by Abd al-Muhsin al-Abbad to an Islamic association in the United States . It explores the purpose of human creation, defines worship (ibadah), outlines the theological preconditions required for deeds to be accepted by God, and details the tangible benefits yielded by fulfilling both general acts of devotion and the fundamental pillars of Islam .
Key Themes and Structure
Definition and Conditions of Worship
The treatise begins by defining worship as a comprehensive designation for everything God loves and is pleased with, encompassing inward and outward sayings and actions . Al-Abbad emphasizes that an act of worship is valid only when two conditions are met:
- Sincerity to God alone (ikhlas al-amal lillah), which fulfills the first part of the testimony of faith (la ilaha illa Allah) .
- Adherence to prophetic practice (tajrid al-mutaba'ah li-l-rasul), which fulfills the second part (Muhammadun rasulullah) and precludes religious innovations (bida') .
To substantiate the rejection of innovations, the author cites statements attributed to Malik ibn Anas and an incident involving the companion Abdullah ibn Mas'ud rebuking a group who gathered in a mosque using stones to count corporate dhikr .
General Effects of Devotion
Al-Abbad surveys Quranic verses and prophetic traditions illustrating that piety (taqwa) and righteous deeds produce both earthly and otherworldly benefits . Worldly effects include tranquility, relief from hardships, divine protection, discernment between truth and falsehood, and expanded sustenance, while otherworldly rewards include the expiation of sins and admission into Paradise . Drawing on Ibn Rajab's commentary in Jami' al-Ulum wa-l-Hikam, al-Abbad expounds the Prophet's counsel to Ibn Abbas— احفظ الله يحفظك ("Safeguard [the commandments of] Allah and He will safeguard you")—and cites the prophetic account of the three men trapped in a cave whose righteous deeds served as a means of deliverance .
Impacts of Specific Pillars
The treatise analyzes the distinct spiritual, psychological, and social outcomes of the major pillars of practice:
- Prayer (Salah): Anchors daily life through regular connection with God in congregational worship and restrains the worshiper from indecency and wrongdoing .
- Obligatory Charity (Zakat): Cleanses the soul of greed and stinginess, purifies wealth, and establishes social solidarity (al-takaful al-ijtima'i) by aiding the poor without burdening the affluent .
- Fasting (Siyam): Serves as a shield against sinful impulses and the Hellfire by curbing worldly appetites, while cultivating empathy among the wealthy for those enduring hunger .
- Pilgrimage (Hajj): Fosters global fraternity and mutual counsel among Muslims, brings the expiation of previous sins, and reminds pilgrims of death and the Day of Judgment through the wearing of the simple ihram garb and the standing at Arafat . Al-Abbad notes that an accepted pilgrimage (hajj mabrur) is evidenced by a noticeable improvement in a person's religious conduct thereafter . He also highlights rituals exclusive to Mecca, such as circumambulating the Kaaba (tawaf) and touching the Black Stone, reiterating the prohibition of performing circumambulation at shrines or graves .
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