The human body is a marvelous creation, a vessel of life and a reflection of the divine. It is a gift from God, who is closer to us than our own jugular vein (Biz ona şah damarından daha yakınız. Kaf/16). He knows our thoughts, our feelings, our desires, and our needs. He is the source of our existence, the sustainer of our being, and the ultimate goal of our journey.
But how often do we appreciate this gift? How often do we honor this vessel? How often do we acknowledge this closeness? How often do we worship this source?
Many people think that worship is limited to certain rituals, such as prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage. They perform these acts of devotion with the hope of pleasing God, earning His rewards, and avoiding His wrath. They follow the rules and regulations of their religion, but they do not feel the connection and the love that God has for them.
They do not realize that worship is much more than that. Worship is not only a duty, but also a privilege. Worship is not only a formality, but also a joy. Worship is not only a means, but also an end. Worship is not only a part of life, but also the essence of life.
Worship is the expression of our gratitude, our admiration, our submission, and our love for God. Worship is the recognition of His greatness, His beauty, His mercy, and His grace. Worship is the surrender of our will, our ego, our pride, and our sins to Him. Worship is the attachment of our heart, our soul, our mind, and our body to Him.
Worship is not confined to specific times, places, or actions. Worship is a state of being, a way of living, a mode of existence. Worship is the realization that everything we have and everything we do is from Him, for Him, and to Him.
When we feel God closer than our jugular vein, our body becomes a temple. A temple that is sacred, pure, and holy. A temple that is dedicated, devoted, and consecrated. A temple that is filled with light, peace, and love.
And then sleeping, eating, drinking and making love become worship. They become worship because they are not done for our own sake, but for His sake. They become worship because they are not done out of habit, but out of intention. They become worship because they are not done with negligence, but with mindfulness.
Sleeping becomes worship when we thank God for the rest and the renewal that He gives us. Sleeping becomes worship when we remember Him before we close our eyes and when we wake up. Sleeping becomes worship when we seek His protection from the evils of the night and the temptations of the dreams.
Eating becomes worship when we thank God for the food and the drink that He provides us. Eating becomes worship when we remember Him before we eat and after we finish. Eating becomes worship when we eat with moderation, with gratitude, and with generosity.
Drinking becomes worship when we thank God for the water and the beverages that He quenches us with. Drinking becomes worship when we remember Him before we drink and after we sip. Drinking becomes worship when we drink with purity, with satisfaction, and with compassion.
Making love becomes worship when we thank God for the spouse and the intimacy that He blesses us with. Making love becomes worship when we remember Him before we unite and after we separate. Making love becomes worship when we make love with respect, with affection, and with fidelity.
And only then prayer becomes worship. Prayer becomes worship when it is not a burden, but a pleasure. Prayer becomes worship when it is not a routine, but a passion. Prayer becomes worship when it is not a chore, but a choice.
Prayer becomes worship when we feel God closer than our jugular vein, when our body becomes a temple, when our sleeping, eating, drinking and making love become worship.
Not before.
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