CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION

CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION li-llah ta‘ala (Tafsir al-Baydawi, Vol. 1, p. 29). Meaning: Worship is the highest form of submission and humility. Because of this, the term is used exclusively for submission to God. Abu al-Su‘ud: al-‘ibadah aqsa ghayat al-tadhallul waal-khudu’ (Tafsir Abi al-Su‘ud, Vol. 1, p. 16). Meaning: Worship represents the ultimate level of humility and submission. Alusi al-Baghdadi: al-‘ibadah a‘la maratib al-khudu’, wala yajuzu shar‘an wa-la ‘aqlan fi‘luha illa li-llah ta‘ala, liannahu al-mustahiqqu li-dhalika li-kawnihi muwliyan lia‘zam al-ni‘am mina al-hayat wa-al-wujud wa-tawabi‘ihima (Ruh al-Ma‘ani, Vol. 1, p. 89). Meaning: worship is the highest form of humility and submission, and it is not permissible—either in the Shariah or in reason—to direct it to anyone other than God, because as the greatest Benefactor, He alone truly deserves it. Shaykh ‘Ali al-Maha‘imi: al-‘ibadah tadhallul li-ghayr ‘an ikhtiyar li-ghayat ta‘zimihi (Tafsir al-Maha‘imi, Vol. 1, p. 24). Meaning: Worship is to humble oneself by choice before another in order to honor him greatly. Although the essential meaning of ‘ibadah is humility and submission, when used in relation to God it also includes love—for a believer’s humility before God cannot exist without it. Hence scholars often define Islamic worship as combining both.