Question:

Some Muslims are of the opinion that the Arabic term “ʿAbd” (عبد) means only ” worshipper” and should only be addressed to God and never to human beings, does this correspond to the language usage of Qurʾān?

Answer:

In the 105th verse of the 21st chapter “Al-Anbiyāʾ” it says:

ولقد كتبنا في الزبور من بعد الذكر أن الأرض يرثها عبادي الصالحون

“We already wrote in the Psalm after the admonition that My righteous servants (ʿIbād) will inherit the earth.”

In the 32nd verse of the 24th chapter “An-Nūr” it says:

وأنكحوا الأيامى منكم والصالحين من عبادكم وإمائكم إن يكونوا فقراء يغنهم الله من فضله والله واسع عليم

“Marry the single among you and the righteous among your servants (ʿIbād) and your maidservants. If they are poor, God makes them rich by His favour and God is comprehensive and knowledgeable.”

As-Suyūṭī writes on page 291 of Tafsīr-ul-Jalālain:

وعباد من جموع عبد

“Servants (ʿIbād) is the plural of servant (ʿAbd).”

Aṭ-Ṭabarsī writes on page 179 in the 7th volume of Majmaʿ-ul-Bayān:

وزوجوا المستورين من عبيدكم وولائدكم

“Marry the covered of your slaves (ʿAbīd) and your offspring.”

Comment:

The point is not how the term “ʿAbdʾ” (عبد) is to be understood, but that in the language of the Qurʾān it is not only used for God.