Worship of love and worship of compulsion

عبادة المحبوبية وعبادة القهر

Sha'rawi distinguishes worship by compulsion, which every created thing renders, from worship of love, which God wants from jinn and humans, who come to Him by choice. He notes that the heartbeat and digestion are beyond human choice, so the sphere of choice is whether one follows the method. He separates 'slaves' (abid) from 'servants' ('ibad) and holds that the commands of duty are addressed to believers who enter a faith covenant 1 2 3. This is Sha'rawi's reading and is attributed to him.

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
Review
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Summary

Sha'rawi distinguishes worship by compulsion, which every created thing renders without choice, from worship of love, which God wants from jinn and humans, who come to Him by choice. 1

The sphere of choice

Sha'rawi notes that the heartbeat and digestion are not under human choice, so the sphere of choice is whether one follows the method or leaves it. 1

Slaves and servants

Sha'rawi separates "slaves" ('abid) from "servants" ('ibad), and holds that God addresses the commands of duty to believers who enter a faith covenant, while in the Hereafter all are compelled to obey. 2 3

Author's view

This is Sha'rawi's reading and is attributed to him. The scan gives no academic view on the distinction between compulsion and choice, and none has been checked.

Opinions on the question

The question: What is the difference between worship by compulsion and worship of love, and why is choice given to humans?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Choice is the condition of worship as love; compulsion shows only power

Sha'rawi holds that God made the human choosing so that the believer loves Him by consent; compulsion alone shows majesty, not being beloved {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.37} {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan p.80}.

Held by: Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawi

More opinions (2)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

Not checked in this batch

The pages give no academic view on the distinction between compulsion and choice.

Other viewOther opinion

No other view presented

The view given in these pages is Sha'rawi's.

Sources

  1. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.80
  2. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.81
  3. Sha'rawi's Khawatir around the Holy Quran, volume one (scan copy) , p.82
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Worship of love and worship of compulsion”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/ibadat-al-mahabba-wal-qahr/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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