What is the meaning of worship?

Question:
Some people think that the meaning of worship is limited to prayer, fasting, and the like. Is this correct?

Answer:
Worship is of many types; it is not limited to prayer, fasting, zakah, and Hajj. Rather, these are the pillars of Islam. The pillars of Islam are and the Hajj to the House of Allah the Sacred. These are the pillars upon which the religion stands. The remaining acts of obedience are complements to these pillars and perfecters of these pillars, and they are numerous. Acts of worship are numerous: acts of worship with the tongue, such as the remembrance of Allah, reciting the Qur'an, enjoining good and forbidding evil, calling to Allah, giving advice, and reconciling people; acts of worship with the body, such as prayer, fasting, Hajj, and jihad in the path of Allah; and acts of worship with the heart, such as humility, fear, hope, dread, and turning back to Allah. These are in the heart. Also, love is the love of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) and the love of His awliya (close friends of Allah). These are acts of worship of the heart. So, acts of worship are numerous. For this reason, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "Worship is a comprehensive name for everything that Allah loves and is pleased with, from the apparent and hidden deeds and words." Yes.