المعنى الاصطلاحي :

A comprehensive name for all that Allah loves and is pleased with of words and deeds, the hidden and apparent thereof.

الشرح المختصر :

"`Ibaadah", or worship, is a comprehensive name for all acts of obedience to Allah. It is of four ranks: - Word of the heart, which is belief in what Allah the Exalted stated. - Word of the tongue, which is reporting what Allah stated, verbal remembrance of Him, and calling people to worship Him. - Action of the heart, such as loving Allah and relying on Him. - Action of the organs, such as the performance of prayer. Worship has two pillars: 1. Perfect love. 2. Perfect submission and humility. Worship is divided into two categories: 1. General universal worship, which is the worship of subjugation and domination and it includes the dwellers of the heavens and earth, believers and disbelievers alike. All of them are slaves of Allah and submissive to His universal laws. This kind of worship entails no reward and those who perform it are not praised for it. 2. Special religious worship, which is the worship of obedience, submission, humility, and voluntary love. The one performing this kind of worship deserves praise. It is special for those whom Allah has granted success. Among its conditions are sincerity and following the Prophet Muhammad, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر :

"`Ibaadah": worship, act of obedience, means of closeness to Allah; also submissiveness and compliance. Original meaning: subservience, docility.