I Believe in God, But Do I Have to Follow All These Rules?

 

"I Believe in God, But Do I Have to Follow All These Rules?"

Okay, let’s get real for a second. In today’s world, it’s common to hear things like: "Yeah, I believe in God. Of course, He exists. But do I really need to follow a bunch of rules? Do I have to pray five times a day and avoid certain things? God knows I believe in Him. Isn’t that enough?"

Well... no, it’s not. Believing in Allah isn’t just about a vibe or some mental acknowledgment like, “Yeah, God made the universe, cool.” It’s like signing up for a gym membership and never showing up—what’s the point? Faith without action is like Wi-Fi with no internet connection: utterly useless.

Allah ko maante ho, lekin Allah ki bhi maano (You say you believe in Allah, but do you follow Him?)

Here’s the thing: If you say you believe in Allah but don’t follow His commands, it’s like telling your parents you love them while ignoring everything they ever told you. Sure, words are easy, but actions? Not so much.

Islam isn’t just a “spiritual status update”—it’s a way of life. The Qur’an isn’t sitting on your bookshelf just to collect dust. It’s a guide, not a decoration piece. If you’re Muslim, you need to follow the Qur’an in your work, relationships, friendships—basically in everything. It’s not enough to just show up on Eid and say, “I believe in God, now where’s my biryani?”

Why Prayer (Salah) Matters Even When You Feel “Fine” Without It

Allah doesn’t need us. Period. He is Al-Ghani, free from need. Our prayers, worship, and good deeds—they don’t add anything to His greatness. But we? We desperately need Allah. Without Him, we crumble. Without salah, without that constant connection to Him, we’re like a plant without water—slowly withering, even if we don’t see it right away.

Salah isn’t just a ritual, it’s a lifeline. When you stand in front of Allah during prayer, it’s a reality check. It reminds you that every single action you take is seen by Him. Now imagine you’ve done something haram, something you know is wrong. And now you’re on the prayer mat, ready to stand before Allah. How do you feel? Embarrassed. Ashamed. It’s like, Man, how am I supposed to face Allah when I just did this? That shame hits you hard, and it makes you think, Why am I even doing this stuff if I know I have to stand in front of Him?

And here’s the beauty of it: the more you pray, the more that shame works in your favor. You start realizing, I don’t want to carry these sins anymore. I don’t want to keep doing what’s wrong if it means standing before Allah with that guilt. Salah pulls you back on track. Little by little, those bad habits start to break down. It’s like cleansing your heart five times a day, removing the grime that builds up from the world around you.

Now let’s talk about that grime—because it’s real, and it sneaks up on you. Do you remember the first time you saw something indecent on your screen? That first moment when you stumbled across something disgusting, immoral? You probably felt sick to your stomach, right? It was gross, and it didn’t sit well with you. But what happens if you keep watching it, over and over again? That feeling starts to fade. At first, it’s uncomfortable. Then it becomes normal. And before you know it, you’re numb. What was once revolting now doesn’t even make you flinch. That’s what indecency does—it eats away at your heart bit by bit. It stains your soul until you can’t tell right from wrong anymore.

And it’s not just what’s on your screen. Step outside, and you’re bombarded with the same filth—immorality, injustice, shamelessness everywhere. Even if you try to avoid it, the world’s negativity seeps in. If you aren’t connected to Allah, all this corruption leaves its mark on you. You become desensitized. Your sense of shame and modesty—your haya—starts to disappear. And here’s the scary part: when haya goes, iman (faith) follows. They’re inseparable. When you lose your shame, you lose a big part of your connection to Allah.

This is exactly why we need Allah—why we need salah. It’s not for Him; it’s for us. Salah is how we reset our hearts and wash off the stains the world leaves on us. It keeps us anchored, reminds us of who we are, and pulls us back from the brink. Because without that connection to Allah, we don’t just lose our way—we lose ourselves.

The Qur’an says: "Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing..." (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45)

Translation? Salah isn’t just a routine—it’s your protection. It’s like a shield keeping you from things that slowly poison your soul. If you skip it, you’re not just missing prayer; you’re missing out on peace of mind, discipline, and connection with Allah.

Everything Is Temporary—Except Allah

We live in a world where everything fades: your looks, your health, your friends, even your favorite Netflix shows. But Allah? He’s eternal. The stuff you have now? It’s all borrowed—your sight, your voice, your ability to move around. Imagine if Allah just took it all back. What then? What would you do if you woke up one day and couldn’t walk? Or if your family wasn’t around anymore?

 “Whatever is with you will end, but what Allah has is eternal…” (Surah An-Nahl 16:96)

Everything you have right now is temporary, including your own life. But Allah’s mercy, His guidance, and His promises? They last forever.

Loving Allah vs. Fearing Failure

There are two types of students: One studies because he loves the subject, and the other studies because he’s terrified of failing. Same goes for our relationship with Allah. Are you following Allah’s commands out of love for Him and trust that His guidance is good for you? Or are you just scared of getting a bad grade in life?

Here’s the thing: If you follow Allah’s path because you love Him, life just hits different. You’re not constantly stressed about pleasing people, because you know that pleasing Allah is enough. And the funny thing is, when you focus on pleasing Allah, people’s opinions start mattering a whole lot less.

It’s Not Just Belief—It’s Practice

Islam isn’t just a checklist of things to believe—it’s a lifestyle. Believing in Allah without following His guidance is like loving someone without showing it. It’s meaningless. Faith isn’t just something you keep locked up in your heart; it’s supposed to show up in your actions.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours: Do you just want to believe in Allah and coast through life, or do you want to practice His guidance and thrive? The beauty of Islam is that every rule, every command from Allah, isn’t there to restrict you—it’s there to protect you and help you live your best possible life. You’re the one who benefits from it, not Him.

Closing Thoughts: Choose Wisely

So here’s the takeaway: Belief without action is just empty words. You need Allah more than He needs you. Salah, Qur’an, and the moral compass Islam gives you—these aren’t just “extra stuff.” They’re what keep you sane, grounded, and thriving in a chaotic world.

Stop treating Allah like a side character in your life. He’s supposed to be the main plot. It’s not enough to say “I believe in God.” You’ve got to live it, feel it, and show it—because that’s where the real magic happens.