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