AL-MA’BÛD - معبود

Etymology: Derived from the Arabic root ‘-b-d (ع-ب-د), which fundamentally denotes to serve, to submit, to worship and to express absolute devotion. As the passive participle (ism al-maf‘ûl), it denotes the object to which worship is offered.

Literally means: Any object, entity, or idol to which ‘ibâdah is offered as an ilah; any object to which the attributes of an ilah are ascribed. It encompasses anything — including physical idols, tyrannical forces, or the worldly desires of one's nafs — whose commands are blindly obeyed and whose prohibitions are strictly avoided.

It is linguistically connected to the following terms sharing the same root:

• ‘Abd (عَبْد): The worshipper, servant, or created entity expressing devotion.

• ‘Ibâdah (عِبَادَة): The acts of worship and obedience rendered unto Allah.

• ‘Ubûdiyyah (عُبُودِيَّة): The state of conscious servitude and absolute submission to Allah as an ‘abd. It represents the entirety of a profound state wherein an ‘abd understands the reality of his being, recognising and accepting his utter weakness, poverty and deficiency before the infinite grandeur of Allah, and materially manifesting this internal realisation in his state, action and conduct through outward acts of ‘ibâdah and absolute obedience exactly as commanded in the Qur’an and exemplified by the Prophet (asm).

As an Islamic Term: It refers to one of the Beautiful Names (al-Asmâ’ al-Husnâ) of Allah, signifying the True and Sole Object of ‘ibâdah. He is the Only Supreme Being Who truly deserves ‘ibâdah and toward Whom all ‘ubûdiyyah must be exclusively directed.