zakah, and fear none but Allah. It is they who may be rightly guided.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked, “Which places are most beloved to Allah?” He replied, “The mosques.” He was then asked, “Which places are most hateful to Allah?” He replied, “The marketplaces.”

He, peace and blessings be upon him, also said:

“Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning or evening, Allah prepares hospitality for him each time he goes.”

He also said:

“When a servant purifies himself, performing ablution thoroughly, then leaves for the mosque solely to pray, one of his footsteps raises him in rank and the other erases a sin.”

The religion of Islam consists in following the various things beloved to Allah with which He sent His Messenger, and avoiding what Allah and His Messenger dislike: religious innovations, deviations, and all kinds of prohibited things.

Islamic acts of worship include the prescribed prayers, congregational prayers, Friday prayers, recitation of the Quran, the remembrance of Allah that He has prescribed for His believing servants, supplication to Him, and the accompanying states of the heart and bodily deeds. They also include the various forms of zakah, charitable giving, and all other kindness to creation, for every good deed is charity. The same applies to all other prescribed acts of worship.

We ask Allah the Most Great to keep us and all our fellow believers steadfast in these acts. And Allah, glorified is He, knows best.