Motives for worship: desire, fear, and gratitude

Nahj al-Balāgha|Volume 1|Book 3|Chapter 237

Nahj al-Balāgha

Book 3, Chapter 237

Motives for worship: desire, fear, and gratitude
1 Ḥadīth
Ḥadīth 287

٢٣٧. وَقَالَ (عليه ‏السلام): إِنَّ قَوْماً عَبَدُوا اللهَ رَغْبَةً فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ التُّجَّارِ، وَإِنَّ قَوْماً عَبَدُوا اللهَ رَهْبَةً فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ الْعَبِيدِ، وَإِنَّ قَوْماً عَبَدُوا اللهَ شُكْراً فَتِلْكَ عِبَادَةُ الْأَحْرَارِ.

237. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: A group of people worshipped Allāh out of desire for reward surely, this is the worship of traders. Another group worshipped Allāh out of fear, this is the worship of slaves. Still another group worshipped Allāh out of gratefulness, this is the worship of free men.