Understanding ‘Ibadah’

Islam, the Arabs followed various restrictions regarding food based on the commands of their religious leaders and the superstitions of their ancestors. When they accepted Islam, Allah commanded that if they truly worship Him, they should abandon all these restrictions and freely consume what He has made lawful. This clearly means that if you are not the servants of your religious leaders and elders, but of Allah, and if you have truly given up their obedience in favor of Allah’s, then in matters of lawful and prohibited, and permissible and impermissible, you must follow the regulations set by Allah instead of theirs. Therefore, here too, the word Ibadah is used in the sense of servitude and obedience.” (p. 73) The words in the verse, “If you worship Allah, then...” themselves indicate that what is being asked for here is not the direct meaning or the “primary and fundamental concept” of Ibadah, but rather a requirement of Ibadah. In the initial sentences of the explanation above, this distinction is present. However, as the discussion continues, it shifts, and it is claimed that “...here, the word Ibadah is used in the sense of servitude and obedience.” At the end of the discussion, verses are provided which,