Journey to ʿUbūdiyyat’: Worshipping Only for Allah’s Pleasure

“A Beautiful Journey Toward Complete Servitude (ʿUbūdiyyat)”

A person’s nafs (inner self) is very cunning. Sometimes it presents an action that outwardly looks very good and blessed, but in reality, the nafs only wants its own happiness and fulfilment. This is not true servitude. True servitude (ʿubūdiyyat) happens when a person does something purely because Allah wants it, and he leaves something only because Allah wants it.
To acquire true servitude, one must continually correct their intention and avoid using wrong words. A person should not think, “I am doing this to gain spiritual enjoyment,” and should not consider spiritual enjoyment as the objective.
The real objective is gaining Allah’s pleasure.

Hazrat Maulana Shah Muhammad Ahmad Sahib (rahimahullah) used to say that reaching true servitude requires effort, time, and continuous striving. When a person walks this path with sincerity and humility, Allah grants him a special relationship and nearness.
Today, our condition is such that if we do not feel enjoyment in worship, we immediately begin to feel lazy or think something is wrong. But this is not the way of the pious predecessors. They would say:
“You do not worship because you enjoy it — you worship because your Master has commanded it.”
Yes, sometimes Allah grants enjoyment in worship, but it is a gift, not a requirement. So if such enjoyment is not present, one should not become distressed. Continue worshipping Allah with steadfastness and sincerity.

If any difficulty or weakness arises, one should humbly ask:
“O Allah, grant me the ability to worship You in a manner that pleases You.”

May Allah bless us with true servitude. May He make our worship sincere and accepted, and may He grant us steadfastness in His path.
— Shaykh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Shah Muhammad Ahmad Sahib
(Daarul Uloom Taleem Asha’rafiya)