The journey showed with logic alone that there must be a single, almighty Creator (Stations I to IV) — and that the Quran describes exactly this Creator (Station V). A question that often follows is this one. The two narrations of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ quoted below are given word for word as published on sunnah.com, with a link to each source.
The principle behind this question is called anthropomorphism, the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to God. Since we usually ask for something because we need it, some people may ask themselves whether God needs our worship. Yet there are actually many things we do without having a need. For example, sharing food with a hungry person, saying words of comfort to someone in distress, helping someone who is lost, saving someone who is in danger and so on. We do such things not because we have a need or to gain any benefit. In other words, if we as humans perform acts without benefiting from them, then why should we assume that the Creator cannot?
Furthermore, whether we worship our Creator or not, does not alter his attributes or characteristics. Imagine a man who is known to be very generous towards his visitors. If no person would visit him anymore, would the fact change that he is generous?
No, however, the man is generous and loves to invite people to his house, so he can practice his generosity. In parallel, Allah is the Owner of the best attributes and characteristics, He is the All-Forgiving who loves to forgive, He is the Most-Generous who loves to be generous, worshiping Him does not benefit Him, but the human. Thus, He enjoined on us to worship Him not because He needs us but rather because we are in need of Him.
Why should we worship God?
Thus, the real question, then, is not whether God needs our worship, but why we need to worship Him. Ibadah (worship) or obedience to the Creator comes naturally once one knows and understands the relationship with Him. When we know that everything we own is originally from God, we realize that everything is a gift from Him, such as our hands, legs, our knowledge and skills. Would anyone be willing to sell their eyes or hands? Or give someone their ability to speak, hear or taste? If you look at it from this perspective, you realize that you have been given countless and priceless gifts.
Allah is Al-Kareem, the One who gives without asking for anything in return, the One who gives to anyone regardless if they are righteous or not, the One who gives without even being asked to give, the One who gives you countless gifts and He even praises and rewards you when you spend them (originally His gifts) in his way, for example for charity. Such generosity is unequaled.
Allah is known as Al-Qayyum, the One who maintains the existence of everything, so everything you see and know is ultimately maintained by Allah. The turning of the night and day, the circulation of every single celestial body, the gravitational forces, the bodies digestive and immune systems, the blood circulating through our bodies, every heartbeat of every single human and animal, everything is maintained by Allah.
Further, He is Al-Ghafaar and Al-Ghafoor, the One who forgives your sins no matter how big they are and no matter how many they are, his forgiveness is unlimited. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ narrated the following:
On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Allah the Almighty has said: ‘O Son of Adam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [too].’” It was related by at-Tirmidhi, who said that it was a hasan hadeeth.
40 Hadith an-Nawawi 42 — sunnah.comImagine how many mistakes and sins we do and how many were done by those before us, so you realize Allah's mercy and forgiveness is unparalleled.
The story of the man who killed one hundred people
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ narrated the following story about a man from Bani Israel (the descendants of Prophet Yaqoob/Jacob):
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3470 — sunnah.comThis narration shows that Allah's mercy extends even to those who have committed the great sins, provided they sincerely turn back to Him.
Praising God should come naturally
If we hear of a person who is very kind, who helps the poor and needy, or someone who is very smart and knowledgeable, or someone who is very strong, do we not naturally like them, praise them or feel a sense of admiration towards them? For example someone like Mother Teresa, who is world famous for her charitable work, or someone like Einstein. Such people are loved and praised around the world. It is in our nature to love and praise people for their kindness, knowledge and wisdom.
Knowing Allah is the foundation of worship
If you learn who Allah is and know that Allah's characteristics like his wisdom, generosity, forgiveness and kindness are unmatched and to the highest degree possible, doesn't it make him then worthy to be praised and worshiped?
Therefore, getting to know your Creator is the core of Ibadah (worship) and if you learn about his attributes and characteristics then you are naturally drawn to love and voluntarily obey Him.