In the following verse we are commanded to refrain from three things in order to be considered submitters (Muslims).
3:64 Say, “O followers of the scripture, let us come to a logical agreement between us and you: that we shall not worship except GOD; that we never associate anything with Him, nor take others as lords beside GOD.” If they turn away, say, “Bear witness that we are submitters.”
Dividing believers and giving comfort to enemies of God (9:107)
These examples show that worshiping other than God is not limited to what someone physically bows and prostrates in front of but can also be something a lot less obvious. So, what does it mean to worship other than God?
The fundamental reason for our existence is to worship God alone.
51:56 I did not create the jinns and the humans except to worship Me alone.
The Arabic word typically translated as “worship” in the Quran is “‘abad” ( عبد), which means not only to worship but also to serve, as in a master-slave relationship. So if we consider anyone other than God as our master or think we are the slave of anyone other than God, then we would be falling into idol worship.
VOLUNTARILY
For this relationship to be true, it needs to be voluntary and not via compulsion. If we consider the expression used in the Quran to “obey God,” which is “atayu Allah” ( أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّه), the word “atayu” comes from the root ( ط و ع) and means “to consent” or “to do so voluntarily.” Therefore, this would be voluntary obedience and not forced obedience, which would be the word “karihu” ( كَرِهُوا۟).
3:32 Proclaim: “You shall obey GOD and the messenger.” If they turn away, GOD does not love the disbelievers.
2:93 We made a covenant with you, as we raised Mount Sinai above you, saying, “You shall uphold the commandments we have given you, strongly, and listen.” They said, “We hear, but we disobey.” Their hearts became filled with adoration for the calf, due to their disbelief. Say, “Miserable indeed is what your faith dictates upon you, if you do have any faith.”
This shows that we worship and are the willful slave to whatever we love the most. Therefore, if God is our true master, we should love God the most.
2:165 Yet, some people set up idols to rival GOD, and love them as if they are GOD. Those who believe love GOD the most. If only the transgressors could see themselves when they see the retribution! They will realize then that all power belongs to GOD alone, and that GOD’s retribution is awesome.
We know we love God the most when we give God priority over everything else.
9:24 Proclaim: “If your parents, your children, your siblings, your spouses, your family, the money you have earned, a business you worry about, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than GOD and His messenger, and the striving in His cause, then just wait until GOD brings His judgment.” GOD does not guide the wicked people.
How can we tell if we love God more than our parents, children, siblings, spouses, family, work, etc.? When we must choose between God or any of these other things, we always choose God. A simple example can be seen by means of the Friday prayer. Consider when the Friday Prayer is announced, do we drop everything to make God our #1 priority?
62:9 O you who believe, when the Congregational Prayer (Salat Al-Jumu’ah) is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of GOD, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew.
If God is our Master, we should want to do the things that please Him for the sake of pleasing Him. If we are good to our parents, children, family, community, employer, etc. it is ultimately because we want to please God.
76:9 “We feed you for the sake of GOD; we expect no reward from you, nor thanks.
The reason we consider God to be our only Master, the only One worthy of our praise and glorification, and the only One we want to please is because we recognize that He alone provides for us and can make us happy. According to the Quran, a simple definition of idol worship is to believe that anything independent of God has the power to harm or benefit a person.
10:18 They worship beside GOD idols that possess no power to harm them or benefit them, and they say, “These are our intercessors at GOD!” Say, “Are you informing GOD of something He does not know in the heavens or the earth?” Be He glorified. He is the Most High; far above needing partners.
So if we think anything independent of God has the power to harm or benefit us and seek to give that priority over God, then we are worshiping other than God.
10:106 “You shall not worship beside GOD what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you. If you do, you will be a transgressor.”
10:107 If GOD touches you with a hardship, none can relieve it except He. And when He blesses you, no force can prevent His grace. He bestows it upon whomever He chooses from among His servants. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful.
In addition to not worshiping any other entity except God, the second requirement for being a submitter (Muslim) is to not associate anything with God.
13:36 Those who received the scripture rejoice in what was revealed to you; some others may reject parts of it. Say, “ I am simply enjoined to worship GOD, and never associate any idols with Him. I invite to Him, and to Him is my ultimate destiny.”
The term often associated with an idol worshiper in the Arabic Quran is the word “mushrik” ( مشرك), but the literal meaning of this word means “to associate” or, more specifically, “to associate partners.” When we understand the meaning of this term, it shows a much subtler form of idol worship than most people typically consider. This is because the Quran doesn’t just prohibit associating deities with other than God; it prohibits associating anything with God.
4:36 You shall worship GOD alone—do not associate anything with Him. You shall regard the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the poor, the related neighbor, the unrelated neighbor, the close associate, the traveling alien, and your servants. GOD does not like the arrogant show-offs.
It is of great importance to highlight that the Quran emphasizes our duty not to ascribe any partners to God. This principle is not confined to other gods alone; it pertains to any possible partners that can be associated with God. Even if we claim that this other entity is subservient to God or merely a servant of God, it can still lead to association. Many instances of historical idol worship demonstrate this pattern, where individuals acknowledged God but intertwined partners with Him. This is why the Quran observes that a significant portion of those who profess belief in God unknowingly engage in idol worship.
6:22 On the day when we summon them all, we will ask the idol worshipers, “Where are the idols you set up?”
The Quran provides numerous examples of what constitutes associating something with God. For example, if we uphold a command contrary to God’s, then we will be committing idol worship.
6:121 Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.
If we set aside a portion of our provisions or worship for some other entity, then we will be committing idol worship.
6:136 They even set aside a share of GOD’s provisions of crops and livestock, saying, “This share belongs to GOD,” according to their claims, “and this share belongs to our idols.” However, what was set aside for their idols never reached GOD, while the share they set aside for GOD invariably went to their idols. Miserable indeed is their judgment.