The foundations upon which worship is built

Machine translationRead the Arabic original

Question:
He has a second question. The brother asks: What are the foundations upon which worship is built?

Answer:
It is built on two foundations. The first foundation is sincerity to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so that there is no showing off, no seeking of reputation, and no shirk (associating partners with Allah) with Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
The second foundation is following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), so that there be no religious innovation (bid'ah) or newly invented matter in it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.

من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو رد

Sahih Muslim 1718b

. In another narration:

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.

من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو رد

Sahih Muslim 1718a

.
As for the condition of sincerity, Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: "And worship Allah, being sincere to Him in [your] religion"

So invoke Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion

فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ

[Ghafir 40:14]

, and He the Exalted said:

Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him

وَاعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلَا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا

[An-Nisa 4:36]

. Yes.

Source قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، نور على الدرب 144 من المجموعة الثالثة للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com (1:54)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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