Worship

What the Bible Says… 

   Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed layer. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. (Psalm 33:2,3). 

   Praise the Lord.. Praise; him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with the tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals… (Psalm 150: 1-5). 

What the Qur'an Says… 

   And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment . (Qur'an, 31:6). 

   Not all of them are alike; a party of the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) strand for the right, they recite the Verses of Allah during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer. (Qur'an, 3:113). 

   O you who have believed! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves, and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful. (Qur'an, 22:77). 

   Only those believe in Our revelations, who, when they are reminded of them, fall down prostrate, and glorify the praises of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (in charity) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden for believer like him who is rebellious and wicked? They are not alike. (Qur'an. 32:15-18). 

   Those were they unto whom Allah bestowed His Grace from among the Prophets, of the offspring of Abraham and Israel, and from among those whom We guided and chose. When the Verses of the Most Generous (Allah) were recited unto them, they fell down prostrate and weeping. Then there has succeeded them a later generation who have reined worship and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise, which the Most Gracious (Allah) has promised to His slaves in the Unseen. Verily, His Promise must come to pass. (Qur'an, 19:58-61). 

Commentary... 

   The purpose of worship in Islam is to purify and cleanse the soul and daily life of sin and evil. The most  fundamental and the most important act of worship is 'Salah', which is the five daily prayers. These daily prayers strengthen attachment to Allah and remind of commitments to Him. They help to prevent the Muslims from being dragged into unlawful worldly activities. The prayers are performed five times a day to ensure this purification. 

   Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book (Qur'an), and perform worship (prayers). Verily, worship prevents from great and shameful sins and evil wicked deeds. (Qur'an 2:45). 
Performing prayer in congregation in mosques creates among the Muslims bonds of love and equality. The poor and the rich, the low and the high the black and white, all stand shoulder to shoulder and prostrate themselves before their Lord; racial pride and arrogance die out. They stand in full devotion and humility reciting the Verses of the Qur'an, giving thanks to Allah and asking Him for forgiveness and help without intermediaries and without priests. No other faith can be like Islam in his close, direct and noble relationship with Allah. In the mosque there is no priests claiming the authority to forgive sins on behalf of Allah and turning the hearts of people from pure worship of the one God. In the mosque there is no music to occupy the mind and divert it away from clear thinking and understanding. 

   Furthermore, worship, in Islam, is not limited to the limited to the mosque only. Every good action is considered an act of worship if it is performed sincerely for the sake of Allah and according to His Law. Even dealing with parents, relatives and people can be acts of worship if they are done according to the instruction of Allah and for His Pleasure. Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said:
   "Removing obstructions and dirt from the way is charity," and he said:
    "Giving your brother a smile is charity, and helping a person load his animal is charity."