One of the important aspects of iyyaka na’budu is that we realize that various things will be required from us at various times, and some things will be more important than others. At any given time, a person will have the option to do more then one act. And all those acts may seem virtuous, rewarding, and appropriate at the time. However, they will not all be equal, not necessarily. So, to do that act which is required at that time is also part of worshipping Allah (SWT). What happens is that because there are some deterrents that have been attached to us, Shaytaan is constantly working, our own nafs is constantly working against us. So, their effort will always be to bring us to an act that is perhaps good, but not as rewarding. If Shaytaan cannot take us away from a good act altogether then he will take us to a less rewarding act. And one of the challenges in this submission to Allah (SWT) is that we make sure that the submission is exclusively to Allah (SWT). In other words, we are doing only that which Allah az-zawjal wants us to do at that given time. So, this a whole branch of ‘ilm, which is referred to maraatibul a’maal. The various levels of deeds. And when a person understands what they are supposed to do in each circumstance, this is the true understanding of deen. The true understanding of deen comes when a person has the knowledge and the understanding to do what is required, when it is required, and to do the best thing at that time. This is one aspect of it. The other aspect is because the worship is exclusively for Allah (SWT), it is for Allah (SWT), it revolves around Allah (SWT), then the slave should not be looking for an immediate sense of gratification or pleasure or enjoyment during that worship. What that means is that sometimes when a person is doing the act of worship, they are extremely devoted, focussed, and are enjoying it. Sometimes a person is standing in salaat, and they are really enjoying that salaat because their heart and mind is in that salaat. They are truly benefitting; they feel like they are communicating with Allah (SWT). Sometimes while making du’a to Allah (SWT) they really feel like they are connecting with Allah az-Zawjal. The same thing happens when doing dhikr, sometimes the same thing happens when performing other good deeds. But other times that sense of satisfaction that comes from ‘ibadah’ is not there. That personal enjoyment that comes from ‘ibadah,’ sometimes a person does not feel it. And then we are prone to becoming disheartened. “Oh, I prayed but I do not feel it.” Somebody says, “I make du’a, but I don’t feel it, I do dhikr of Allah (SWT), but I do not feel it.” What does it mean? They are not feeling that pleasure that enjoyment, that lutf that is felt in worship. So sometimes Allah (SWT) will allow us to taste that pleasure, and sometimes our heart will not open to that pleasure. It does not mean that the value of the worship is any less, nor does it mean that we are not achieving the objective of that worship. But sometimes the heart opens to certain emotions and sometimes it does not, as long as we are doing the right thing. Yes, if a person is standing in salaat, completely distracted, they are thinking of something else and then they say, “I’m not enjoying my worship,” well there is another cause, there is a direct cause that needs to be addressed. But a person is applying their mind, and their heart, and they are doing everything exactly the right way, and they are still not getting that feeling, that should not be a source of discouragement. Why? Because the worship that was for Allah (SWT) was done for Allah (SWT). And as far as my own enjoyment of that, that is a secondary thing. That could be looked as a biproduct, could be looked at as a result. I do not worship Allah (SWT) so that I am pleased, I do not worship Allah (SWT) so that I enjoy it. I worship Allah (SWT) because Allah (SWT) is the one who deserves to be worshipped. And in the words of one sheikh, when people go on this pattern of doing what is enjoyable, then there are a couple things that happen. The first thing is you will find them very inconsistent in any act of ‘ibadah.’ You will find them inconsistent. Because, when it does not have that feeling; they will turn to something else to get that feeling. So, you will see them bouncing around between activities trying to find an activity that gives them pleasure, but their direction is incorrect. The second thing is, who are we worshipping? Who are we the ‘abd of? Are we the ‘abd of our own lutf, or are we the ‘abd of al-lateef? And that is what he says, he says you are ‘abd of al-lateef, Allah (SWT). You are not ‘abd of al-lutf, you are not a slave to your own pleasure and your own enjoyment of that worship. So, these are two aspects that we discussed today. One is to understand and try to learn more about which acts are required when, and to do them at the time they are most rewarding or most required. This is the part of exclusively worshipping Allah (SWT). And the other aspect is whether we feel the pleasure and enjoyment of ‘ibadah or we don’t, our ‘ibadah needs to be consistent because it is he that we are worshipping, it is not ourselves. Our pursuit is of him, we are pursuing Allah (SWT) through these endeavors of worship, we are not pursuing our own enjoyment. May Allah (SWT) give us the realities of this.
