Question

The statement ليعبدون اي ليعرفون is attributed to Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhuma) with regards to the meaning of وما خلقت الجن والإنس إلا ليعبدون . Is this attribution sound?

 

Answer

This has been cited in the following tafsir books as the tafsir of Mujahid (rahimahullah), who is the student of Sayyiduna ‘Ibn ‘Abbas’ (radiyallahu’anhu):

1. Tafsir Baghawi,

2. Tafsir Qurtubi,

3. Ruhul Ma’ani

4. It has also been recorded in Tafsir Ibn Kathir from Imam Ibn Jurayj (rahimahullah) who is a Tabi’i.

 

The tafsir of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhuma) for this verse is quoted as:

ليقروا بعبادتي طوعا أو كرها

(Tafsir Tabari & Ibn Kathir, Surah Dhariyat, verse: 56)

I could not locate the explanation in your question as that of Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu’anhuma).

A fellow senior researcher and author had also expressed this to me in a letter several years ago.

 

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

 

Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar