Allah’s message to his sinful servants…️
By Hisham Abu Yusuf | 2026-10-07T17:39:45.024583+00:00 | Topic: Allah | Masjid: Hisham Abu Yusuf
Summary
The Word 'Slave' in Islam
- The term 'slave' often carries negative connotations.
- In Islam, our relationship with Allah (Rabb) is not one of oppression or torture.
- Allah is not someone who beats or ties us; that is not our Rabb.
Understanding 'Abada Ya'budu
- The Arabic root 'Abada Ya'budu' has a profound meaning.
- It signifies serving someone out of deep love and devotion.
- This concept is fundamentally different from forced servitude.
Allah's Address to Sinners
- Consider how Allah addresses us when we commit major crimes.
- Does He abandon us or condemn us immediately?
- His address reveals a unique aspect of His mercy.
A Call to His Servants (Quran 39:53)
- Listen to Allah's direct address to those who have transgressed.
Never Despair of Allah's Mercy
- Even after committing major sins, Allah still calls us 'My slaves'.
- He commands us: 'Never despair of the mercy of Allah.'
- Allah forgives all sins; He is indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful.
People don't like the word slave. In Islam, we don't have this negative idea that the Rabb is someone who beats you with a stick, that the Rabb is someone who ties you to a tree, that the Rabb is someone who tortures you. That's not our Rabb.
In Arabic, عَبَدَ يَعْبُدُ is to serve someone out of love for them. That's very different.
When we commit the major crimes, how does Allah address us in the Quran?
۞ قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
"My slaves who committed crimes against themselves. My slaves. Never despair of the mercy of Allah."
No matter what major sin we committed, what crime we committed, what wrong we did, Allah says — you're mine. You're not out of that.