Why do some people worship but behave badly?

This profound question, often observed in daily life, finds its answer in understanding the true essence of worship in Islam and its intrinsic connection to human ethics and behavior. Islam is not merely a collection of rituals and observances performed in isolation from daily life and human interactions; rather, it is a comprehensive way of life that aims to purify the soul, refine character, and guide conduct towards goodness and righteousness. When we observe an individual who diligently performs outward acts of worship like prayer (Salah), fasting (Sawm), and Quran recitation, yet simultaneously exhibits ill-manners or harsh and unpleasant treatment towards others, it does not necessarily imply that worship itself is futile or lacks value. Instead, it clearly indicates a fundamental flaw in the understanding or application of this worship, or a deficiency in sincerity of intention and the spiritual depth that ought to accompany it. True worship, in its essence, should act as a mirror reflecting the purity of the worshipper's heart and the improvement of their conduct towards both the Creator and creation. The Holy Quran and the noble Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) repeatedly emphasize that authentic worship is that which yields positive outcomes in both the individual and society at large. Worship is not merely a set of physical movements or words uttered without awareness; rather, at its core, it is a deep spiritual connection with God. This connection instills true piety (Taqwa) in the soul, inspires reverence for Him, and compels individuals to be mindful of His presence and oversight in both private and public. One of the most significant verses that clarifies this meaning and highlights the ultimate goal of worship is found in Surah Al-Ankabut (Chapter 29, Verse 45): "Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do." This verse explicitly states that the ultimate purpose of establishing prayer is not merely its formal performance, but it is an effective means to achieve a higher and greater objective: the prohibition of immorality (fahsha) and wrongdoing (munkar). Therefore, if a person prays frequently but their prayer does not deter them from bad manners, injustice, backbiting, lying, or cheating, then their prayer has not achieved its intended purpose. It might be a physical prayer devoid of spirit, merely a habit that leaves no positive impact on the soul or behavior. There are several fundamental reasons that can explain this apparent contradiction between outward worship and poor conduct: Firstly: **Lack of Sincerity (Ikhlas) and Pure Intention (Niyyah) towards Allah:** Worship in Islam is fundamentally based on absolute sincerity towards Allah alone. If worship is performed with the intention of showing off (riya), seeking praise or reputation, or merely as a blind imitation and inherited social custom, it loses its true essence and profound spiritual impact. One who performs worship with such misguided intentions will not have their heart truly connected to Allah, and consequently, their soul will not be purified or refined. In fact, this showing off might even increase their arrogance and self-admiration. Allah says in Surah Al-Ma'un (Chapter 107, Verses 4-7): "So woe to those who pray * [But] who are heedless of their prayer * Those who make show [of their deeds] * And withhold [common] necessities." These noble verses clearly describe the state of those worshippers who perform prayers but are heedless of their spirit, seek fame and visibility, and do not care about good treatment or helping people, even with the simplest necessities. Secondly: **Weakness in Reflection and Understanding the Spirit and Objectives of Worship:** Many people perform acts of worship mechanically, without reflecting on their deep meanings and noble objectives. Prayer, for instance, is essentially a direct dialogue with Allah, a constant reminder of His presence and absolute oversight, a renewal of the covenant of obedience, and a commitment to noble ethics. If prayer is performed without internalizing and reflecting upon these sublime meanings, it becomes mere empty movements that do not affect behavior or refine character. Similarly, fasting (Sawm) is not just abstaining from food and drink; it is also the fasting of the limbs from sins, the tongue from backbiting and slander, and the heart from forbidden desires and evil thoughts. Thirdly: **The Impact of Chronic Spiritual Diseases:** Some worshippers might suffer from serious spiritual ailments that prevent the light of worship from penetrating their hearts and purifying them. These diseases include arrogance, self-conceit, envy, excessive anger, excessive love of worldly possessions, and greed. True worship aims to remove these veils and cleanse the heart from its impurities. However, if the heart is afflicted with these spiritual maladies, worship may not affect it sufficiently to change outward behavior. A person might pray, fast, and perform pilgrimage, but their heart remains filled with malice, hatred, or selfishness towards others, thereby preventing worship from reflecting positively on their conduct. Fourthly: **Ignorance of the High Importance of Ethics in Islam:** Some mistakenly believe that Islam is solely about performing outward acts of worship, neglecting the ethical and interpersonal aspect, which is, in reality, the core and essence of the religion. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is our excellent example, stated in a noble Hadith: "Indeed, I have been sent to perfect noble character." This Hadith places ethics at the very heart of the prophetic message and its ultimate goal. Good treatment of neighbors, parents, family, friends, and even enemies, is an integral part of faith and indicates its completeness. Ethics are the standard by which an individual's righteousness is measured in the balance of Islam. Fifthly: **Unbalanced Upbringing and Insufficient Awareness:** An individual might grow up in an environment that focuses on the formal aspect of worship without instilling the deep Islamic values and ethics associated with it. Thus, worship becomes merely an inherited custom or a duty performed to avoid blame, rather than a firmly established conviction originating from the heart that influences all aspects of behavior. This leads to a separation between devotional practice and daily conduct. Sixthly: **Distancing from the Essence of Taqwa and Forgetting Divine Oversight:** Taqwa (God-consciousness) is the fear of Allah Almighty and His constant awareness of Him at all times and in all situations. It is the driving force that propels an individual to do good and shun evil. If a person prays and fasts but does not possess this continuous awareness of Allah's absolute oversight over their actions and words, they might fall into prohibited acts and sins in the absence of human supervision, mistakenly believing that their outward worship is sufficient or will absolve them of everything. In conclusion, the existence of some individuals who outwardly show devotion but lack good character does not discredit the religion itself or diminish the true value of worship. Rather, it is clear evidence that there is a deficiency in understanding worship and applying it in the correct manner intended by Allah and His Messenger. Islam calls for the integration of personality, where faith is firmly rooted in the heart, and its positive effects manifest in good conduct and noble ethics, attested to by outward acts of worship. True worship is that which purifies the soul, refines the spirit, and makes an individual a righteous and beneficial member of their society, shunning immorality and wrongdoing, and embodying the ethics of the glorious Quran. A true Muslim is one who combines the qualities of a worshipper and one adorned with Islamic ethics, because worship without ethics is a body without a soul, and ethics without worship are a foundation without a building. We ask Allah to grant us sincerity in worship and good character in our dealings.