CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION

“Islamic way of life,” there are commands that are absolutely required and others that depend on specific circumstances. The obligation of any command applies to us only in the way it was originally intended. If the specific condition exists, then it is obligatory; if not, we are not obligated, nor should we try to put ourselves in circumstances that make it mandatory. This is why, even though the list of religious duties covers every part of life, the way this thinking relates to those commands—and how it defines the Islamic mission—is not actually derived from any specific verse of the Quran. The information I’ve presented in the previous pages has already made this point clear. Let me clarify how we should properly see our relationship to various religious commands: From the Quran it is clear that the central thing God requires from His servants is worship: “I created the jinn and humankind only so that they might worship Me.” (51:56) This idea is mentioned multiple times throughout the Quran. For example: “O people, worship your Lord.” (2:21) “Worship your Lord until certainty comes to you.” (15:99)