The Meaning of Ibaadah
Worship ( العبادة) is defined as:
A comprehensive term that incorporates everything that Allaah loves and is pleased with from the statements and actions, both inward and outward.
Thus, worship is of many different types, and they are mentioned in the Qur'an. And when something is declared to be worship, then it is not permissible for it to be directed to other than Allaah, and such worship occurs either in the heart, upon the tongue or through the limbs, all the forms and types of worship fall into any of these three categories.
The greatest of the types of worship is du'a ( الدعاء), "invocation, supplication", and invocation is such that it is accompanied by other forms and types of worship, especially those of the heart, such as love, hope, aspiration, reliance, humility and the likes, and the reality of du'a is such that these other states and conditions are integrally tied to it and part of it. Thus, the issue of invocation (du'a) is one that has been dealt with extensively in the Qur'an, in refutation of those who worship others besides Allaah, by making their hearts attached to others besides Him and invoking them (with the presence of such devotion of the heart that is befitting only for Allaah).
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