The rights of Allah are the first and greatest rights, because everything in Islam, from prayer to good manners, rests on them. Everything else in Islam, from prayer to good manners, rests on it. This article explains the rights of Allah upon His servants from the Qur’an and authentic Hadith, and where scholars differ about related rulings.
1. The purpose of creation
Allah says: “I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an 51:56). The Prophet ﷺ explained to Mu’adh ؓ: “The right of Allah upon His servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him, and the right of the servants upon Allah is that He does not punish the one who does not associate anything with Him” (Sahih al-Bukhari 2856, Sahih Muslim 30).
2. Tawhid: worshipping Him alone
Allah says: “Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him” (Qur’an 4:36). Surah al-Ikhlas states: “Say: He is Allah, One” (Qur’an 112:1). Luqman told his son that shirk is a tremendous wrong (Qur’an 31:13).
3. Worship as He prescribed
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakat, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan” (Sahih al-Bukhari 8, Sahih Muslim 16). We worship Allah in the way taught by His Messenger.
4. Gratitude and remembrance
Allah says: “If you should count the favours of Allah, you could not enumerate them” (Qur’an 16:18) and “Remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me” (Qur’an 2:152).
5. Seeking help from Allah alone
We say in every prayer: “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help” (Qur’an 1:5). The Prophet ﷺ advised Ibn ‘Abbas ؓ: “Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you… If you ask, ask Allah” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2516).
Where Scholars Differ on Rights of Allah
All schools agree that prayer is the most important act of worship after the testimony of faith. Scholars differ about someone who abandons prayer deliberately without denying that it is obligatory. A well-known narration from Imam Ahmad and some scholars consider that person to have left Islam, whereas the majority, including the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi’i schools, consider it a very grave sin that does not take someone out of the religion, though they differ on the punishment (the Hanafis say imprisonment, the Malikis and Shafi’is say a legal penalty). All agree that denying its obligation is disbelief.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rights of Allah
What is the greatest right of Allah?
That He is worshipped alone with nothing associated with Him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2856).
Does Allah need our worship?
No. Allah is free of need, and the benefit of worship returns to us (Qur’an 29:6).
How can I fulfil His rights daily?
Pray on time, remember Him, be thankful and avoid what He forbade.
Conclusion
Studying rights of Allah from the Qur’an and authentic Hadith helps us to follow the guidance of Allah in our own lives. We hope this article on rights of Allah has been useful. For related topics, read Why Muslims Should Reflect on the Qur’an and Rights of a Wife in Islam.
