The Meaning of 'Ibadah/Worship

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Since this book frequently discusses polytheism in worship ('ibadah), it is appropriate to briefly explain the Arabic term 'ibadah to provide a clearer understanding of what is meant by the word “worship” in this context. However, due to the concise nature of this treatise, it is not possible to delve into this topic in detail here; instead, this should be addressed in a separate and dedicated study of the subject.

The word 'ibadah is the masdar (verbal noun) of the verb 'abada ya'budu. From this, the word 'abd for “servant” is also directly derived. Linguistically, 'abada means “to serve” in a broader sense, which is why a slave in Arabic is also called 'abd.

In its linguistic meaning, the concept primarily revolves around submissiveness and humility or dependence towards someone else – in Arabic: adh-dhullu wa-l-khudu'.

The two terms, however, are not to be understood in the sense of misery and degradation as they are typically perceived by interhuman standards. In the context of worshiping the Creator, the meaning of the word 'ibadah carries an entirely positive connotation, as this position of the creation towards its Creator is considered the most appropriate. In accordance with human nature, from an Islamic perspective, it is the purest and highest rank that a person can aspire to: being a righteous servant of His Creator.

This is because, no matter what a person undertakes or how far he develops, he will never come close to reaching the level of his Lord. Even the greatest human achievements remain utterly insignificant in relation to the Creator.

In contrast, arrogance and refusal do not elevate a person in virtue or status; rather, they cause him to fall. Aside from that, a person ultimately cannot refuse servitude to his Lord in any case. Whatever a person does or not, he will always remain a servant, and this is for the following two reasons:

1. On the one hand, he will always remain a creation, no matter what he does. Even if he refuses to worship his Creator, he cannot escape the decree of his Lord. Whether and how he is born and dies, whether he experiences illness or healing, and how he spends his life in the end – these are all conditions defined by the Creator, not by the creation.

In the end, creatures can do nothing unless the Creator permits it. No human being can free himself from this relationship, even if some might imagine otherwise. Whoever tries to do so does not elevate himself in the slightest – especially not in relation to his Lord, who will ultimately judge this creation.

The human being is as he is. According to prophetic teachings, a person can only continue to rise by drawing closer to his Lord. This is the greatest achievement a person can attain, and only through this path will he reach the highest possible degree of freedom.

1. On the other hand, it is in human nature to serve and submit to something. Whoever does not consciously serve his Creator ultimately ends up serving other people, his own desires, and inclinations – thus becoming, in the end, a slave to these very things and individuals.

This is also where the difference lies between a person who submits to his Creator and a person who refuses to do so out of arrogance. This also helps to understand why, according to Islamic teachings, arrogance fundamentally contradicts the fear of God.

The Arabs used the word 'ibadah (to serve/worship) in the same sense as the word dhull (to submit/be humble), and the word ta'bid (to enslave or make someone a servant) in the same sense as tadhlil (to cause someone to submit/make someone humble).

The mufassir/exegete at-Tabari therefore mentions, when explaining the word 'ibadah, some old poetic verses in which a path is described as mu'abbad, meaning “flattened or made low.” The Arabs used this term for a path when it had been frequently travelled and was thus flattened by the feet of people.

In the shari'ah, the legal meaning is more specific. Submissiveness and humility only become 'ibadah when they are accompanied by insight, devotion, and love. This is easy to understand since it is unimaginable for someone to worship Allah without showing any love towards Him or even being averse to Him. Such an attitude would not constitute submission in the sense of 'ibadah as required by Islam.

In Islamic teaching, 'ibadah is essentially a comprehensive term for everything – both outward and inward actions and statements – that Allah loves from His creatures.

This is because Allah سبحانه وتعالى only commands what He loves. Every action carried out with the intention of drawing closer to Allah⁸² is therefore considered 'ibadah. It is precisely this taqarrub (closeness) that must not be directed towards anyone except Allah.

The inner actions and statements are mentioned here because these hidden aspects are also forms of 'ibadah. Love, fear, reverence, and similar feelings are all described in Islamic theology as forms of 'ibadah. In fact, everything ultimately revolves around these actions of the heart – a'malu l-qulub in Arabic.

Outward actions and statements are always a consequence of these inner actions and statements, as expressed in Islamic-Arabic terminology.