abd = to serve or to worship?
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Peace All,
Analysis from The Reading (Al Quran)
Root Ayn-Ba-Dal = to serve or to worship?
The following is just a few of the occurrences of the root, which I feel prove ?serve? is the preferred choice, over ?worship?.
O you who believe, execution has been decreed for you in the case of murder; the free for the free, and the slave (AAabdu) for the slave (AAabdi)...
It is less likely to mean ?and the worshiper for the worshiper?.
?And do not marry the males who set-up partners until they believe. For a believing servant (AAabdun) is better than one who sets up partners even if he attracts you?
This verse implies that marrying a ?believing servant? is better than marrying a servant who sets up partners, even if he attracts you. Read it again with ?worshipper? in place, and see which fits better.
It is not for a human that God would give him the scripture and the authority and the prophethood, then he would say to the people "Be servants (AAibidan) to me rather than God!", but "be devotees for what you have been taught of the scripture, and for what you studied".
This verse implies that to serve The God is to be devoted to what you have learnt/studied of the scripture/decree/law (kitab).
And lastly?
Verb (2nd form)
Moses states to Pharaoh
"And that was a favour that you held against me, so you could continue to enslave (AAabbad) the Children of Israel"It?s clear to students of the scripture that Pharaoh did not worship the COI nor did they worship him.
A slave is essentially one who serves his/her master. It would be inappropriate to say a slave is one who worships his/her master. Furthermore, ?serve? gives a much wider understanding of the term, which can encompass some aspects of ?worship? (e.g. to call/petition (dua) The God, emotional aspect etc.), thus its more accurate.
From www.dictionary.com
slave
One bound in servitude as the property of a person or household, one who is abjectly subservient to a specified person or influence, one who works extremely hard.serve
To work for, to meet the requirements of, to be of assistance to or promote the interests of.worship
The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object, the ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed, ardent devotion; adoration.servant of the household?
Wakas
