Introduction
Many Muslims read Allah’s words in the verse: “I did not create jinn and humankind except to worship Me” (Qur’an 51:56) and understand worship as ritual — the five daily prayers, fasting, zakat, and pilgrimage. These are indeed pillars of faith. Yet worship in the Qur’an is far deeper: it is the orientation of the entire life toward Allah.
I believe Allah created me because He loves me. Worship, then, is not a burden of fear but a response of love. My prayers are not mechanical duties; they are moments of intimacy, gratitude, and harmony with His will.
Worship Beyond Ritual
– Rituals as language of love: The five daily prayers are not ends in themselves. They are the rhythm of love, reminding us to return to Allah throughout the day.
– Life as worship: Every act of kindness, justice, and mercy is worship. Feeding the hungry, comforting the grieving, speaking truth — all are ways of loving Allah back.
– Love, not fear: Fear of punishment may motivate some, but love of Allah transforms worship into joy. When we pray with love, we pray with presence, humility, and peace.
Qur’an and Gospel: A Shared Ethic of Love
– Qur’an (4:36): “Do good… to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbor and the distant neighbor.”
– Gospel (Matthew 22:37–39): “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”
Both scriptures elevate love of God and neighbor as divine commands. The Qur’an frames worship as love expressed in justice and mercy. The Gospel makes love the greatest commandment. Together, they show that true faith is inseparable from love.
Agape and Rahma: Two Words, One Reality
– In Christianity, God’s love is described with the Greek word Agape — unconditional, self-giving love.
– In the Semitic languages Jesus spoke — Aramaic and Hebrew — the closest essence is Rahma.
– Rahma means mercy, compassion, tender care — and in Arabic, it is the very root of God’s names: Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim.
– Thus, Agape and Rahma are not two different concepts, but two languages pointing to the same divine reality: God’s love as mercy, compassion, and unconditional care.
Hadith: Love as the Measure of Faith
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
- “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
- “By Allah, he does not believe… the one whose neighbor is not safe from his harm.”
These sayings make love and neighborly care the very measure of faith. Just as the Gospel teaches love of neighbor, the Hadith insists that faith is incomplete without it.
Love as a Bridge
– Muslims and Christians share this common denominator: love.
– Those who live to love — who pray with love, serve with love, and forgive with love — become bridges between communities.
– Love dissolves fear, suspicion, and division. It builds harmony across faiths, cultures, and nations.
Conclusion
Allah created us out of love. Worship is our way of returning that love. When Muslims pray five times a day with love, not fear, they embody the Qur’an’s vision of worship. When Christians live by the Gospel’s command to love, they embody the same truth.
Agape and Rahma are two words for one reality: God’s love. Love is the language of God. Love is the bridge between us. Those who live to love are the builders of unity in a divided world.