In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Religious Duties

A Gift From God

When Abraham implored God in 14:40, he did not ask for wealth or health; the gift he implored for was: "Please God, make me one who observes the contact prayers (Salah)." The religious duties instituted by God are in fact a great gift from Him. They constitute the nourishment required for the growth and development of our Souls. Without such nourishment, we cannot survive the immense energy associated with God's physical presence on the Day of Judgment. Belief in God does not by itself guarantee our redemption; we must also nourish our souls (6:158, 10:90-92). Additionally, 15:99 states that observing the religious duties instituted by God is our means of attaining certainty:

[15:99] And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty.

[The Final Testament/Quran 91:7-10] The soul and Him who created it. Then showed it what is evil and what is good. Successful is one who redeems it. Failing is one who neglects it.
[The Final Testament/Quran 22:32] Indeed, those who reverence the rites decreed by God demonstrate the righteousness of their hearts.
[The Final Testament/Quran 29:45] You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of God (through Salat) is the most important objective. God knows everything you do.
[The Final Testament/Quran 98:5] All that was asked of them was to worship God, devoting the religion absolutely to Him alone, observe the contact prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat). Such is the perfect religion.
[The Final Testament/Quran 2:183] O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation.
[The Final Testament/Quran 3:96] The most important shrine established for the people is the one in Becca; a blessed beacon for all the people.
[The Final Testament/Quran 3:97] In it are clear signs: the station of Abraham. Anyone who enters it shall be granted safe passage. The people owe it to God that they shall observe Hajj to this shrine, when they can afford it. As for those who disbelieve, God does not need anyone.
[The Final Testament/Quran 6:141] He is the One who established gardens, trellised and untrellised, and palm trees, and crops with different tastes, and olives, and pomegranate - fruits that are similar, yet dissimilar. Eat from their fruits [if they ripen], and give the due alms on the day of harvest,* and do not waste anything. He does not love the wasters.