Are We Worshipping Work or Worshipping God Through Our Work?

Al Salam Alaikum 🌱 

As Muslims, we understand the importance of maintaining balance in our lives. Particularly when it comes to our work. Islam encourages hard work, productivity, and contributing positively to society. However, a crucial question we should constantly ask ourselves is: “Are we worshipping work or are we worshipping Allah through our work?”

💨 Balancing Spiritual Commitments in a Fast-Paced World

In today’s fast-paced world, where success is often linked to professional achievements, it’s not uncommon to prioritize work over everything else, even our faith. We may sacrifice our prayer time, family commitments, and personal well-being to meet deadlines or achieve professional goals.

At such times, work becomes a ‘counterfeit god’ that we worship instead of a means to worship Allah. It’s essential to remember that while Islam encourages hard work, it should never be at the cost of our faith or our responsibilities towards ourselves, our families, and our communities.

⚡️ My Awakening

As a personal example, for the last six years, I have been engrossed in running a high-growth startup. I was so driven by the desire to succeed that I failed to prioritize what truly mattered: my faith and my family. I missed prayers or rushed through them to get back to work. Family events and personal relationships also took a backseat as I was constantly caught up in meetings, deadlines, and problem-solving.

I convinced myself that I was making these sacrifices for the “greater good” of the company’s success.

However, it was only when my dear mother was diagnosed with cancer in February 2019 that this realization hit me. I had to make a radical change.

Over time, I realized that this lifestyle was taking a toll on my spiritual well-being and relationships. My faith felt weaker, and my family relationships suffered.

I realized that success without faith and family wasn’t success at all. It was a painful but necessary lesson about maintaining balance and ensuring that our work is a means to worship Allah, not a ‘counterfeit god’ that we worship instead.

❌ The Corrupted State of Work: From Divine Purpose to Distorted Idolatry

Work, as ordained by Allah, has been deeply impacted by the world’s descent into decay and corruption. This fall has not only affected human beings but also the systems and structures of our world. That’s why many of us encounter disappointment, failure, or even profound pain in our work.

Instead of being meaningful, as Allah intended, work has often been distorted, feeling meaningless and futile. Even with our scientific and technological advances, this brokenness permeates our work.

Work, in its corrupted form, manifests in several ways:

• Our work appears fruitless: We cannot accomplish what Allah has destined for us.

• Our work doesn’t materialize as we hope: Despite our efforts, we feel stagnant or face repeated obstacles.

• Our work feels pointless: We become disconnected from our work and lose sight of its purpose. Whether behind a computer, serving in the community, or working in a hospital, we question if our efforts make a difference.

• Our work consumes us: We develop an unhealthy obsession with achievement and recognition, risking our faith and crucial relationships.

• Our work becomes our idol: We treat our accomplishments as a deity and slowly become molded by the distorted image of what we worship. Gradually, we confuse our job with our identity. Our work becomes a narrative of personal success and a means to serve ourselves rather than a medium to serve Allah, our community, and the Ummah.

This paints a rather grim picture, with our work teetering between the extremes of futility and idolatry. But this is not how Allah intended work to be, nor does it align with the Qur’anic portrayal of the purpose of work.

As per Islamic teachings, work is meant to be a meaningful pursuit, a form of worship, and a way to contribute positively to society and gain Allah’s pleasure.

☪️ Balancing Professional Commitments and Spiritual Obligations

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of balance in our lives. We are taught to seek success to strive for excellence in our professional lives while maintaining our duties towards Allah and our families.

So, how can we honor Allah through our work? Here are four ways to start:

We can transform our jobs into worship by consciously aligning our work with our faith.

This week’s challenge may require some deep introspection, but it is designed to prompt you to reflect on your relationship with work truly. It’s time to hold a mirror up to yourself and delve into some profound questions about what work means to you. This introspection could be a significant step towards aligning your professional life with your faith, personal values, and beliefs.

1. How do I define success in my work? Is it only about financial gain or does it involve serving a higher purpose?

2. How much of my identity is tied to my work? Do I feel less valuable or worthy without my work achievements?

3. Do I prioritize work over my faith and family commitments? Do I often sacrifice prayer times, family events, or personal well-being for work?

4. How does my work align with my faith? Does my work allow me to uphold my religious values and principles?

5. Do I see my work as a form of worship or a means to earn a living?

6. How often do I bring my faith into my work? Do I consciously try to incorporate religious teachings into my daily work life?

7. Am I satisfied with the impact of my work? Does it contribute positively to society and align with my faith-based values?

8. Does my work consume my thoughts and energy to the point where I feel overwhelmed or stressed? Does it leave me with little time for spiritual reflection and growth?

9. If I were to stop working today, how would that impact my sense of self-worth and identity?

10. Do I use my work to glorify God and serve a more significant cause, or has my work become an idol that I worship?

🤲 Closing Dua 

May Allah guide us to achieve this balance in our lives and help us use our work to worship Him.