Verse 57

3926

Important Words:

لیعبدون (they may worship Me) is derived from عبد (‘abada). عبداللّٰه means, he served, worshipped or adored God alone or he rendered to God humble obedience. عبد (‘abuda) means, he was or became a slave, his forefathers having been so before him. عبد به means, he clave to it or him. عبدہ (‘abbada) means, he enslaved him; he subdued him so that he did thework of slaves. عبد الطریق means, he trod the road so as to make it even or easy to walk or ride upon. عبد البعیر means, he subdued or rendered the camel submissive (Lane, Aqrab & Mufradat).

Commentary:

The primary signification of the word عبادة (‘Ibadat) as shown under Important Words above, is to subject oneself to a rigorous spiritual discipline, working with all one’s inherent powers and capacities to their fullest scope, in perfect harmony with and in obedience to God’s design, so as to receive the Divine impress and thus be able to manifest in oneself God’s attributes. This is, as stated in the present verse, the great and noble aim and object of man’s creation and this is exactly what worship of God means. The external and internal endowments of human nature give us clearly to understand that of God-given faculties the highest is the one which awakens in man the urge to search after God and incites in him the noble desire completely to submit himself to His will. This being the great object of man’s existence the Quran has not failed to prescribe ways and means to attain it.

The first means towards the attainment of this end is right knowledge and firm faith in a Living God and the recognition and realization of His beauty and goodness, because beauty and goodness are the two incentives to love (1:2-4 & 14:35).

Another important means to realize this noble end is prayer. Repeated stress has been laid upon prayer in the Quran because man can reach God only with Divine help and assistance (40:61).

Without mujahadah it is idle even to conceive of attaining this end. Mujahadah consists in seeking God by spending one’s money and time and applying one’s faculties, and sacrificing one’s life as well as using one’s knowledge and wisdom in the cause of God (9:41; 2:4 & 29:70).

Fitful or lopsided effort produces no lasting results. It is unwavering perseverance and constancy in his endeavours which are needed for a spiritual wayfarer to reach his goal. He should be indefatigable and untiring in the way in which he walks and should remain steadfast under the hardest trials (41:31). When adversities encompass a man all around and when he is threatened with loss of life, property and honour in the way of God, and death stares him in the face and the last ray of hope departs, it is then that perseverance must be shown (2:208). It is such perseverance that leads one to God.

Another important means to attain this supreme object is to keep company with the righteous and to imitate their example because man is by nature inclined to imitate a model and he constantly feels the need of it (9:119).

Last but perhaps the most important factor which helps man to attain this great and noble object are pure dreams, visions and revelations from God. As the road which leads to God is very mysterious and intricate and is full of difficulties and dangers, the spiritual wayfarer may depart from the right course or despair of attaining the goal. The grace of God, therefore, continues to encourage and strengthen him in his spiritual journey with inspiring visions and revelations, and animates him with a still more zealous desire to pursue his journey eagerly. Thus strengthened he proceeds upon his journey with great vigour and zeal (10:65).