The content on this website (from a book I have been working on for family and friends) has been a long time in the making and has passed through numerous iterations, surviving every change of heart and period of stagnation. It began as a work entitled, My Journey, which remains apt for this describes the approach of each of us to our Creator. We find the journey in the religious imagery of our two traditions: "Guide us along the straight path," recites the Muslim in every prayer, while the Christian reads from the scriptures, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." In my own case, I began these notes with the sentiment that when I came to believe in Islam in 1998 it was not the end of the road, but rather its beginning.

Over a year ago I renamed my book, Reconciling the Heart, for this too described my journey towards God. Yet although I am still fond of that title, I settled in the end for the name at the head of this chapter and on the cover of this book: To Honour God. For many years--even as a wavering agnostic--my constant refrain has been the notion that I only want to honour God, and so the imagery of the journey returns for I have made little progress in this regard, taking only a few steps along this path.

It is a journey that begins with us turning to God as we sincerely call ourselves to account: there comes a time when we realise that we want to be close to God and there can be no substitute. Thus, responding to the call of our heart, we bring ourselves before Him, repenting for every wrong action that passed before and dedicating ourselves to this path: to worship God as if we see Him, knowing that truly He sees us.

For me, it means to turn in repentance, to strive to purify my heart from its spiritual diseases, to conquer the calls of my lower self and to adhere to God's commands. I find myself with a great need to accomplish humility in prayer and to enjoy true focus, to ward off pride and arrogance, and to replace self-centredness with a life revolving around God, recognising that good works are a means to an end, but not an end in themselves. All of this--I believe--is encapsulated in those six oft-repeated words of mine: I only want to honour God.

The path of Muhammad--the religion of Islam--enjoins upon its followers remembrance of God, which means glorifying, exalting and praising Him. In the Qur'an we read, "Remember Me and I will remember you." Elsewhere we read, "...and remember your Lord much and glorify Him in the evening and in the early morning." Another verse reads, "Those who believe, and whose hearts find their rest in the remembrance of God--for, verily, in the remembrance of God hearts find rest."

The Prophet said, "The difference between the one who remembers God and the one who does not remember God is like the difference between the living and the dead." It is also reported that he taught that God says:
As my servant thinks about Me so will I be for him. I am with him if he will remember Me. If he calls on Me by himself I will call him by Myself, and if he calls on Me in a group of people, I mention him in a better group in My presence. If he approaches Me one hand-span, I will approach him one arm's length; if he approaches Me one arm's length, I will approach him by a cubit; if he comes to Me walking, I will come to him running.

For every tiny action on our part, God promises that He will return it with something better. If we turn to Him walking, He will come to us running, for He is indeed the Most Merciful. Even if our sins were like mountains, reaching the clouds of the sky, He promises us forgiveness if we turn to Him alone with sincere repentance. With gifts like these, what excuse do we have not to honour Him?

The Prophet Muhammad said, "Any activity not begun with the words, 'In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,' is severed from its blessings." He also taught that the deeds most loved by God are those done regularly, even if they are small. He used to sleep during the earlier part of the night and stood in prayer during the latter part, for he said that the best prayer after those that are obligatory is the prayer in the middle of the night. He once said, "Getting up at night is enjoined upon you, for it was the practice of the pious before you. It brings you near to your Lord and is atonement for evil deeds and a restraint from sin."

Concerning the ritual prayers performed five times each day, the Messenger said, "If there was a river at the door of the house of one of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would you say that any dirt would be left on him?" His companions replied that no dirt would be left at all. "So that is the example of the five prayers by which God washes away sins," he said. Once he was asked which deed was most loved by God and he replied, "Prayer which is performed on time."

The Prophet used to seek God's forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day. He told us, "No trouble befalls a Muslim, and no illness, no sorrow, no grief, no harm, no distress, not even a thorn pricks him, without God expiating by it some of his sins." A man asked Muhammad, "Which part of Islam is best?" He replied, "To provide food and to say salam--peace--to those you know and to those you do not know." In another narration he said, "Indeed the nearest people to God are those who begin by saying salam."

The Messenger of God said, "Charity is due upon every limb of a human being each day that the sun rises. To act justly between two people is charity. To help a man with his riding beast, or to load his provisions on it or lift them up for him is charity. A good word is charity. Every step going to prayer is charity. Removing from the road what causes harm is charity." Once he said, "While a man was walking along, he came across a thorny branch on the way and he removed it. God praised him for that and forgave him his sins." He taught us, "Fear God wherever you are; let an evil deed be followed by a good deed so that you blot it out; and be well-behaved towards people."

Our Prophet said, "Beware of envy, for envy devours good deeds like fire devours firewood." He also said, "The strong man is not the one who is strong in wrestling, but the one who controls himself in anger." The Messenger of God never used obscene talk, nor did he listen to it. He taught us to be humble so that no one boasts over his neighbour nor oppresses him. "None of my companions should tell me anything about anyone," he said, "for I like to meet you with a clean heart." He told his followers, "Do not talk for a long time without remembering God, for talking much without remembering God is hardness of the heart. The most distant from God amongst mankind is the one with a hardened heart."

The Prophet said, "The Merciful One shows mercy to those who are themselves merciful to others. So show mercy to whatever is on earth, then He who is in heaven will show mercy to you." He taught, "He who does not thank people does not thank God." He also said, "When someone has had good done to him and says to the doer, 'May God reward you,' he has done the utmost praise." He said that a man does not truly believe until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.

The word Islam, which is derived from the Arabic root Salema--meaning peace--means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law. Within the teachings of the religion it is defined as the Middle Way, embracing both the law and the spirit of the law, denying both the Christian's rejection of the law in favour of its spirit and the Pharisee's dismissal of the spirit in favour of devotion to detailed legislation. The Middle Way provides balance so that we may appreciate the wisdom inherent in this way of life.

wasalam masha allah well said may allah grand you tawfiq just a Quick Reminder
as your brother in deen dont want to deprive you from this benefit to say after the name of the prophet muhammad (Salalahu alaihi wasalam).(Allah bless him and grant him peace)
Qur’an 33:56; ‘Verily, Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet: O you who believe! Send blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy salutation.’
The very name "Muhammad"(Allah bless him and grant him peace) means "the one who is praised, often praised" and the name of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is also known as "Ahmad" (Allah bless him and grant him peace)meaning "the one deserving of praise".
Tirmidhi related from Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said ‘the closest people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who invoked the most blessings upon me.’
Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said ‘he who invokes blessings on me once, Allah sends ten blessings upon him.’
Tirmidhi narrated from ‘Amir bin Rani’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said ‘he who invokes blessings upon me, the Angels send blessings upon him equal to that which he invoked, so let the worshipper invoke some, or increase upon that.’
Tirmidhi related from ‘Ali (may Allah beautify his countenance) that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said ‘he who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me is a miser.’
Tirmidhi related from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said ‘disgraced (Ar. raghima anf) be the man who, when I am mentioned before him, fails to invoke blessings upon me.’

may allah bless you and except of effort insha allah wasalam
keep me in your dua

Assalaamu alaikum,

Masha'allah, your post gets right to the heart of things and explains it simply. (And I mean "simply" as a compliment.)

A beautiful and heart-filling post Please let us know if you publish the book

Ya Haqq!