In the last chapter, I have tried to detail the consequences arising from the changing of the meaning of the 'Kalema' 'La Elaha Ella Allah' to 'La Ma'bud Ella Allah'. In the collective national lives of mankind, all the directives, orders and prohibition ascribed by Allah Himself have been rejected and set aside while the Dajjal has been accepted as the Elah with its prescribed doctrine implemented in all major issues. On the other hand, in their personal lives these people offer Salah (prayer), Saom, (fasting, self restrain), perform Hajj give in charity and consider themselves to be performing ‘swaleha’ – good deeds, and live in complacency that the doors of Jannah (paradise) await them. Now let us see what Allah understands by Ebadat and what Ebadat does He actually expect from us?

The correct meaning of Ebadat is- the performance of the very job any particular object has been created for. The sun has been created to generate light and heat and that is what it is doing from the time of its creation, this is how it is performing its Ebadat. Similarly Allah has created the earth to facilitate the growth of plants, trees, crops, flowers etc and it is diligently carrying out its Ebadat since its creation. Similarly water, fire, electricity, light etc. all creation are carrying out their respective responsibilities without a second’s break, hence they all conform to their own forms of Ebadat.

The same rule applies to all man-made objects; every object carries out the specific duty it is created to accomplish. The motor car, for example is built as a means of transport for people from place to place, to do it is its Ebadat. Electricity has been produced to run various electrical appliances like radio, television, computer etc., and all the various appliances perform Ebadat by perfectly doing what each is manufactured for. The only difference between the things created by Allah and those manufactured by human beings is that humans need raw materials to manufacture things and Allah doesn't need anything. When He wants to create something He just commands, "Be, and there it is."[1]Now let us try to find out what Allah created man for. Once we know it we will understand what our true Ebadat is.

This entire universe including the 'Malayeks' or Angels were created long before Adam was. When He announced before them His will to place His 'Khalifa' on the earth,[2] they objected in union; however paying no heed to them, Allah went ahead and created Adam anyway[3] which makes Adam and us, his descendants, all 'Khalifas' of the Maker, therefore it is important to understand the meaning of 'Khalifa' and 'Khelafat' clearly. The literal meaning of the word Khalifa is 'vicegerent'; holder of delegated authority, ambassadors, regional governor of a sovereign.[4] If someone wants to have his works done by somebody else and appoints him as his representative, agent with necessary authorities then that appointed person becomes his Khalifa. If a spiritual guide and teacher (peer) for some reason wants to delegate his powers to some chosen disciples to guide and teach his disciples (Murids) on his behalf he appoints them as his Khalifas, his representatives. The condition is that person will disperse the 'peer' or shayekh’s teachings in exactly the same manner as the 'peer' himself does, without adding or subtracting any from the original teachings. Therefore, a Khalifa is someone appointed by the peer to act on his behalf among his disciples. If however, this same Khalifa were to deviate from the peer's teaching according to his own liking, adding or subtracting at his fancy, but verbally declaring his peer's authority, would then the peer still tolerate him as his Khalifa?

Another example may be sited here. Suppose an Emperor of a vast kingdom appoints a chosen person as governor of a specific region, in which case, the governor as the Emperor's viceroy would carry out his executive order to rule that area. This governor is the Khalifa i.e. representative of the sovereign emperor. He would be supplied with all necessary guidelines in law and order, economy, penal code etc. to ensure that things run exactly as they would under the Emperor himself. In short, the governor would have no independent authority to alter any of the Emperor's directives. If however, the governor chooses to disregard the Emperor's orders in lieu of which he imposes his own ideas and regulations, yet avowing to the Emperor's authority and sovereignty as lip-service; would then the Emperor still retain his appointment?

Or acknowledge him as his viceroy? Logically thinking he would be recalled to the capital, stripped of his post and punished. While in power, the governor might still proclaim the authority of the Emperor, bow five times daily in reverence before him but for the very reason that he changed the entire system of the Emperor's rule, he would be removed from office and punished for violating and undermining the Emperor's sovereignty. Therefore, to relegate one's own responsibility on someone else is to bestow 'Khelafat' or vice-regency on him and that appointed person is the Khalifa. The chosen Khalifa of Allah on this earth is Adam (as) and consequently we, his descendants. In the Qur'an, Allah affirms that Adam (as) was placed as the vicegerent on the earth only.[5] Then as the Khalifa of Allah on this earth what are the duties of mankind? What are the responsibilities?

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