Of Worship and Knowledge.

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Abu Hafsat

Active Member
Oct 30, 2010
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Kano, Nigeria
As-Salaam alaikum,
In the Holy Qur'an, Allah Tabaraka Wa Ta'ala, says:--

"I created not the Jinn and Mankind except that they might worship Me." (51:56)

In his Kitab al-Luma, Abu Nasr al-Sarraj (d. 378/988) reports the comment of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: the word 'worship' here means 'knowledge' (ma'arifa), so that the phrase illa li-yabudini (except that they might worship Me) becomes illa li-ya'rifuni (except that they might know Me).

The very purpose of the creation of man thus comes to be equated with that knowledge of Allah which constitutes the most profound form of worship. This view dovetails with the hadith-qudsi frequently cited by Sufis: 'I was a hidden Treasure and I loved to be known, so I created the world....' You know the rest of the hadith, I suppose.
 
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