A Rereading of the Concept of "Worship" (ʿAbd) According to the Quran

 

The Concept of ʿAbd (عبد) in the Qur’an: A Re-reading

1. Introduction

In contemporary religious discourse, the word ʿabd (عبد) is often narrowly understood as "to worship" or "to perform ritual acts of devotion." However, the Qur’an presents a broader and deeper meaning. The concept of ʿabd not only refers to turning towards Allah, but also to obedience and submission to Satan, ṭāghūt (tyrannical forces, idols), ancestral traditions, and humanly invented systems.

Rarely do people explicitly say, “I worship Satan” or “I worship ṭāghūt.” Yet, the Qur’an emphasizes that the majority of people follow a misguided path, that true believers are a minority, and that those who affirm faith without associating partners with Allah are even fewer (Yūsuf 12:103–106).

2. The Use of ʿAbd in the Qur’an

• Turning solely to Allah:
  “Say: Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship (أعبد) those you invoke besides Allah, once clear proofs have come to me from my Lord. And I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.” (Ghāfir 40:66)

• Devoting religion purely to Allah:
  “Say: Indeed, I have been commanded to worship (أعبد) Allah, dedicating my religion purely to Him.” (Al-Zumar 39:11; cf. 39:2)

• Not obeying Satan:
  “O my father, do not worship (لا تعبد الشيطان) Satan.” (Maryam 19:44)

• Not obeying ṭāghūt:
  “…those whom Allah has cursed, upon whom His wrath has fallen, of whom He made apes and swine, and who worshipped ṭāghūt.” (Al-Māʾidah 5:60)

• Not blindly obeying ancestors:
  “They said: Have you come to us so that we may worship Allah alone and abandon what our fathers used to worship?” (Al-Aʿrāf 7:70)

• Not obeying desires:
  “Say: I do not worship (أعبد) those whom you invoke besides Allah.” (Al-Anʿām 6:56)

From these examples, it is clear that the Qur’anic use of ʿabd signifies absolute devotion, submission, and adherence. When directed towards Allah, this constitutes tawḥīd (pure monotheism). When directed towards Satan, ṭāghūt, ancestral traditions, or human desires, it becomes shirk (polytheism, associating partners with Allah).

3. Idols and “The Work of Hands”

In the classical view, aṣnām (أصنام) is reduced to stone idols. However, etymologically the term refers to “objects fashioned by hands.” The Qur’an expands this meaning beyond stone statues to include books, traditions, ideologies, and systems created by human effort when they are elevated to rival divine guidance.

• “My Lord, make this city secure and keep me and my children away from worshipping idols.” (Ibrāhīm 14:35)

• “Do you worship what you carve?” (Al-Ṣāffāt 37:95)

The Qur’an repeatedly criticizes “what their hands have produced” (e.g., Al-Baqarah 2:79, 2:95; Āl ʿImrān 3:182; Al-Kahf 18:57; Al-Shūrā 42:30). This includes humanly invented religions, self-made laws, and man-centered systems that stand in opposition to divine revelation.

4. Conclusion

According to the Qur’an, the concept of ʿabd is not confined to ritual acts of worship. It encompasses obedience, submission, and devotion in the broadest sense. Every human being ultimately serves something:

• Either they purify their religion according to Allah’s revealed Book and become His true servant,

• Or they follow Satan’s embellishments, ṭāghūt’s systems, ancestral traditions, and human inventions.

Thus, the essential question the Qur’an poses is not merely “Do you worship?” but rather:
“Whom — or what — are you serving?”

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