Understanding ‘Ibadah’

THE CONCEPT OF RELIGION according to the author under review, encompass all three meanings of Ibadah, presenting the complete concept of worship that requires one to make Allah their deity in the sense of “servitude, obedience, and reverence.” However, none of these verses actually demonstrate the comprehensive and complete concept of worship that the author intends. Here, I will discuss a few verses. “Say, ‘O people, if you are in doubt about my religion, then know that I do not worship those you worship besides Allah, but I worship Allah, who takes your souls, and I have been commanded to be of the believers.’” (Quran, 10:104) In this context, the following phrase appears later in the explanation: “And do not call upon besides Allah what can neither benefit you nor harm you.” (Quran, 10:106). This shows that here Ibadah min dun Allah refers to the act directed toward those beings whom people call upon, thinking they can bring benefit or harm. In this context, Ibadah refers to reverence, and the deities besides Allah refer to idols. The phrase “I do not worship those you worship besides Allah” means “I do not worship idols.” (Tafsir al-Qurtubi, Vol. 8, p. 387)