Although the concept of worship (ibadah) has been gradually reduced in common usage to mean little more than the performance of certain religious rites and rituals, the original and true definition is comprehensive. It encompasses all actions and intentions motivated by a recognition of greatness - that combination of love and fear, producing efforts to please the worshipped one and to avoid his displeasure. An object of worship continually occupies the mind of the worshipper and consequently governs his behavior, both consciously and unconsciously. When applying the correct definition, it becomes clear that despite lip-service to “La ilaha ill-Allah,” one’s object of worship could well be something other than Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).
“Have you seen the one who takes as his god ins own desire, and [so] Allah has left him astray because of knowledge?” [45:23 – Scholars have said that the phrase “ala ilm” (because of knowledge) refers to Allah’s knowledge of that servant and his preference for his own desires, or as well, to that servant’s knowledge of the truth although he rejects it]
Those pursuers of falsehood in the form of political ideologies and national leaders, foreign customs, wealth, fashion or various worldly enjoyments might assume that by bowing to Allah in prayer, they worship Him alone. But Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) firmly corrected this misconception.
Once, 'Adiyy bin Hatim entered while the Prophet was reciting a verse from the Qur’an:
“They took their scholars and monks as lords other than Allah and [also] the Messiah, Son of Mary. And they were not ordered except to worship one God…” [9:31]
Thus worship was defined as obedience - a fact that becomes evident from even a superficial study of the Qur’an in which Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) orders repeatedly:
“Obey Allah and the Messenger.” [3:32, 3:132, 4:59, 8:1, 8:64, 24:54, 47:33, 58:13 and 64:12. Many other verses, although worded differently, carry the same meaning.]
“Legislation is only for Allah. He has commanded that you not worship any but Him. That is the right religion, but most of the people do not know.” [12:40]