Faith is All About Obedience: Mufti Taqi Usmani on the Essence of Islam (Malfoozat of Shaykh al-Islam Hazrat Maulana Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani)
It was advised that the essence of the entire faith (Emaan) is “Ittiba” (obedience)—following the command of Allah.
There is nothing inherently significant in fasting, breaking the fast (Iftaar), or in the physical act of prayer itself. It is only when Allah commands us to pray, that praying becomes worship, and if He tells us not to pray, then refraining becomes worship.
When He commands us to fast, fasting becomes worship, and if He instructs us not to fast, then not fasting becomes worship. If you fast at such a time, it would actually be against the faith (Imaan).
The essence of faith (E’maan) is obedience. If Allah places this in our hearts, it would destroy all forms of innovation (bid’ah) in Islam.
(Islahi Khutbat, Volume 1, Page 53)
This Malfooz is selected by Dr. Faisal Sahib.