Note: The table is populated with data obtained from the Quran.corpus.com, and `a denotes the Arabic letter ayn.
Instances of `abd
Out of 131 instances of `abd meaning ‘slave/servant’ in the noun form, 41 instances found in 40 verses of 14 surahs in the Quran are already reviewed, and 51 instances found in 50 verses of 18 surahs are reviewed here to better understand their meanings in different contexts:
[18:1] All praise to God the One who has sent down the scripture to His servant (Muhammad) (al-hamdu lillahi alladhee anzala `alaa `abdihi al-kitaaba), and He does not make any crookedness to it.
[18:65] Then they found a servant from servants of us (fa-wajadaa `abdan min `ibaadinaa), we had given him mercy from us and we had taught him knowledge from us.
[18:102] Has it then thought those who have disbelieved that they can take My servants as protectors other than Me (yattakhidhuu `ibaadi-i min duuni-i awliyaa-a)? We have prepared Hell as a dwelling place for the disbelievers.
[19:2] There is mention of mercy of your Lord to His servant Zakariya (dhik’ru rahmati rabbika `abdahu zakariyyaa).
[19:30] He (Jesus) said, “Indeed, I am a servant of God (inni-i `abdu allahi). He has given me the scripture and has made me a prophet.
[19:61] Gardens of Eden, which the Gracious in the unseen has promised to His servants (allatee wa`ada al-rahmaanu `ibaadahu bil-ghaybi). Indeed, it has been His promise to come.
[19:63] That is the Paradise which we make inheritance to our servants (til’ka al-jannatu allatee nuurithu `ibaadinaa) whoever has been righteous.
[19:93] Not everyone whoever is in the heavens and the earth but a comer to the Gracious as a servant (illaa aatee al-rahmaani `abdan).
[20:77] And that certainly, we had inspired to Moses that you shall travel by night with My servants (wa-laqad awhaynaa ilaa muusaa an asri bi-`ibaadi-i), then you shall strike for them a dry path through the sea; do not fear for overtaking, nor to be afraid (of drowning).”
[21:26] And they said, “The Gracious has taken a son!” Glory is His. Nay, they are honored servants (bal `ibaadun muk’ramuuna).
[21:105] And we have mentioned in the Psalms, after the reminder (given to Moses and Aaron) that the earth – the righteous servants of Me will inherit it (anna al-arda yarithuhaa `ibaadiya al-saalihuuna).
[22:10] That is of what has sent forth your hands, and that God has not been of unjust for the servants (wa-anna allaha laysa bi-zallaamin lil’`abeedi).
[23:109] Indeed, there has been a group of My servants say (innahu kaana fareeqan min `ibaadi-i yaquuluuna), ”Our Lord, we have believed, so forgive for us and have mercy on us, and You are best of the merciful ones.”
[24:32] And you shall get married the single and the righteous from your male slaves and your female slaves (wa-ankihuu al-ayaamaa minkum wa-al-saaliheena min `ibaadikum wa-imaaikum). Even they may be poor, God may enrich them from His bounty. And God is Bounteous, Knower.
[25:1] Blessed is the One who has sent down the statute book to His servant (Muhammad) (tabaaraka alladhee nazzala al-furqaana `alaa `abdihi) that he may be a warner for the people of the world.
[25:17] And a day He will gather them and what they worship other than God, then He will say, “Have you misled My servants of these, or have they gone astray (themselves) from the path (a-antum dalaltu `ibaadi-I haaulaai am hum dalluu al-sabeela)?”
[25:58] And you shall put trust upon the Living, the One who does not die, and shall glorify with His praise. And it has sufficed with Him being Cognizant of sins of His servants (wa-kafaa bihi bi-dhunuubi `ibaadihi khabeeran).
[25:63] And servants of the Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humbleness (wa-`ibaadu al-rahmaani alladheena yamshuuna `alaa al-ardi hawnan), and when has addressed them the ignorant, they said “peace.”
[26:52] And we had inspired to Moses that you shall travel by night with My servants (wa-awhaynaa ilaa muusaa an asri bi-`ibaadi-i); indeed, you will be followed.
[27:15] And that certainly, we had blessed David and Solomon with knowledge, and they said, “All praise to God, the One who has favored us more than many of His servants of the believers (al-hamdu lillahi alladhee faddalanaa `alaa katheerin min `ibaadihi al-mu’mineena) .
[27:19] So, he (Solomon) had smiled with laughing from her speech, and said, “My Lord, grant me that I can appreciate Your favor that You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I can do as a righteous You please on him, and admit me by Your mercy into Your servants of the righteous ones (wa-adkhilnee bi-rahmatika fee `ibaadika al-saaliheena).”
[27:59] Say, “All praise to God, and peace upon His servants those whom He has chosen (wa-salaamun `alaa `ibaadihi alladheena is’tafaa). Is God better or whom they associate (with Him)?”
[28:82] And has begun to say of those who had wished his position of the day before, “Ah, that God extends the provision for whomever He wills of His servants and restricts it (wayka-anna allaha yabsutu al-riz’qa liman yashaau min `ibaadihi wa-yaqdiru). If not that God had favored upon us, He would have caused to swallow with us. Ah, that the disbelievers will not succeed.”
[29:56] O My servants who have believed; My earth is spacious (yaa-`ibaadiya alladheena aamanuu inna ardi-I waasi`alun); so, alone Me that you shall worship Me.
[29:62] God increases the provision for whomever He chooses of His servants and withholds it (allaha yabsutu al-riz’qa liman yashaau min `ibaadihi wa-yaqdiru lahu). Indeed, God is Knower of everything.
[30:48] God is the One who sends the winds that they raise clouds, then He spreads them in the sky, how He wills, and He makes it fragments that you see the rain coming forth from its midst. Then when He has caused to fall with it whomever He wills of His servants, when they rejoice (fa-idhaa asaaba bihi man yashaau min `ibaadihi idhaa hum yastabshiruuna).
[34:9] Do they not then see what is before of them and what is behind of them in the heaven and the earth? If we will, we could cause the earth to swallow them, or could cause masses to fall on them from the sky. Indeed, in that surely, there is a sign for every servant who turns (to God) (inna fee dhaalika la’aayatan li’kulli `abdin muneebin) .
[34:13] They (jinns) worked for him (Solomon) what he willed – temples, and statues, and deep pools, and heavy cooking pots. “You shall do (righteous deeds) O family of David in appreciation.” And a few of My servants are grateful (wa-qaleelun min `ibaadiya al-shakuuru).
[34:39] Say, “Indeed, my Lord extends the provision for whomever He wills of His servants (inna rabbi-i yabsutu al-riz’qa liman yashaau min `ibaadihi), and restricts for him. And whatever of anything you have spent, then He will compensate it, and He is the best Provider.”
[35:28] And among the people, and the animals, and the livestock there are various colors of them like that. The knowledgeable only fear God of His servants (innamaa yakhshaa allaha min `ibaadihi al-`ulamaau). Indeed, God is Almighty, Forgiving.
[35:31] And which we have revealed to you of the scripture; it is the truth confirming that which was before of it. Indeed, God is surely Cognizant, Seer of His servants (inna allaha bi-`ibaadihi la’khabeerun baseerun).
[35:32] Then we have made to inherit the scripture to those whom we have chosen from our servants (alladheena is’tafaynaa min `ibaadinaa), that among them there has been a wrongdoer for his soul, and among them there has been a moderate one, and among them there has been a foremost in the good deeds by permission of God. That, it is the greatest blessing.
[35:45] And if God were to punish the people for what they have earned, He would not have left any creature on its back, but He gives them respite until an appointed term. Then when there has come their term, then indeed, God has done with His servants as a Seer (fa-inna allaha kaana bi-`ibaadihi baseeran).
[36:30] It is regret for the servants (yaahasratan `alaa al-`ibaadi)! Not a messenger comes to them except that they have done to mock with him.
[37:40] Except servants of God, the sincere ones (illaa `ibaada allahi al-mukh’laseena).
[37:74] Except servants of God, the sincere ones (illaa `ibaada allahi al-mukh’laseena).
[37:81] Indeed, he (Noah) was one of our servants of the believers (innahu min `ibaadinaa al-mu’mineena).
[37:111] Indeed, he (Abraham) was one of our servants of the believers (innahu min `ibaadinaa al-mu’mineena).
[37:122] Indeed, both of them (Moses and Aaron) were our servants of the believers (innahumaa min `ibaadinaa al-mu’mineena).
[37:128] Except servants of God, the sincere ones (illaa `ibaada allahi al-mukh’laseena).
[37:132] Indeed, he (Elijah) was one of our servants of the believers (innahu min `ibaadinaa al-mu’mineena).
[37:160] Except servants of God, the sincere ones (illaa `ibaada allahi al-mukh’laseena).
[37:169] Surely, we (the disbelievers) would have been servants of God, the sincere ones (la’kunnaa `ibaada allahi al-mukh’laseena).
[37:171] And that certainly, there has preceded our decision for our servants, the sent ones (wa-laqad sabaqat kalimatunaa li’`ibaadinaa al-mur’saleena).
[38:17] You (Muhammad) shall be patient to what they say, and shall recall our servant David being possessor of the firmness (wa-udh’kur `abd anaa daawuuda dhaa al-aydi); indeed, he was turning in repentance.
[38:30] And to David we had granted Solomon, an excellent servant (wa-wahabnaa li’daawuuda sulay’maana ni`’mata al-`abdu); indeed, he was turning in repentance.
[38:41] And you (Muhammad) shall recall our servant Job (wa-udh’kur `abdanaa ayyuba), when he had called upon his Lord that the devil has afflicted me with illness and pain.
[38:44] And you (Job) shall take a bundle in your hand, then shall travel with it, and do not break an oath. Indeed, we had found him steadfast, an excellent servant (innaa wajadnaahu saabiran ni`’ma al-`abdu). Indeed, he was turning in repentance.
[38:45] And you (Muhammad) shall recall our servants (wa-udh’kur `ibaadanaa): Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob being possessors of the firmness and the vision.
[38:83] Except Your servants, the sincere ones from them (illaa `ibaadaka minhumu al-mukh’laseena).
Upon review of the messages of the above instances we may pay attention to the following to understand what we should believe and do being servants of God: All praise belongs to God Who has promised gardens of Eden to His sincere servants, and peace be upon all of His chosen ones who are His honored servants. The servants of God those who have taken protectors other than Him are disbelievers. and their dwelling place is Hell. Jesus said, “I am indeed a servant of God and He has given me a scripture and has made me a prophet.”, while God has reminded Muhammad to have the firmness and the vision like His servants of Abraham, Isaac , Jacob and David. The judgment will take place based on what we have sent forth with our own hands, and God will ask those who had misled His servants whether they had misled them or they had gone astray by themselves. The provision of the servant of God belongs to Him, and He will increase or decrease it whomever He wills. God has sent down a scripture with the truth having no crookedness in it confirming that which was before of it, while He is Cognizant and Seer of His servants. However, the Satan promised to God to make losers all of His servants except the sincere ones to Him is very crucial for His servants to pay special attention when we are in a situation that most of His servants have taken protectors other than Him, but they think that they are not disbelievers.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (10/17/2025).