Abd (Arabic)
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ʿAbd (Arabic: عبد) is an Arabic word meaning one who is subordinated as a slave or a servant, and it means also to worship. [1][2][3] The word can also be transliterated into English as 'Abd, where the apostrophe indicates the ayin, denoting a voiced pharyngeal fricative consonant or some reflex of it. In Western ears, it may be perceived as a guttural 'a' sound.
As Islam was introduced to the Arabs the word "abd" was never used to refer to a slave of a human being again. "Abd" is clearly understood to be a status reserved for the relationship between God and man only. The word for "slaves" (more accurately translated as POWs in English) in Islam is "Mamluk" which means that which is possessed. Islam restricted possession of other people with several constraints:
1) All Mamluk must be POWs who are not able to integrate into society on their own - either because of language or because they still want to destroy the State whom they lost the war to.
2) All Mamluk must be treated the same as your children, and if you fail to clothe them and feed them from the same as your family, the slave is freed and the criminal is punished.
The status of Mamluk in Islamic society is far superior to the comparative position of wage-slaves in the 19th and 20th centuries in industrial nations, and many scholars argue Mamluk were treated better than employees today, since the freedom of their children is guaranteed, being born a slave is strictly forbidden, however most people in the labor class will remain as second class citizens for generations.[4][5]
It appears in many common Arab names followed by Al (the) in form of "Abd ul", "Abd ul-", etc.; this is also commonly translitated as "el-," in the form "Abd el-", meaning "servant of the-". This is always followed by one of the names for God. These names are given in List of Arabic theophoric names and 99 Names of God.
A widespread name Abdullah (name) (or ʿAbd Allah) means "servant of God" or "worshipper of God".
- Abd Rabbuh (“slave of his Lord” or “servant of his Lord”)
- Abduh (“His slave” or “His servant”)
It can also refer to humans, such as:
- Abdul Nabi (“slave of the Prophet” or “servant of the Prophet”)
- Abdul Zahra (slave of Fatimah Zahra - daughter of Muhammad)
- Abdul Hussein (slave of Hussein - grandson of Muhammad)
It can also be used by Arab Christians and Arabic-speaking Christians, just as long as it is associated to their religion:
- Abdul Masih (“slave of the Messiah” or “servant of the Messiah”)
- Abdul Salib (“slave of the Cross” or “servant of the Cross”)
- Abdul Shahid (“slave of the Martyr [i.e. Jesus Christ]” or “servant of the Martyr”)
- Abd Yasu ("slave of Jesus" or "servant of Jesus")
- Abida
- Abidi
Abdullah can be also used by Arab Christians, as they refer to God as Allah.
Further notes
ʿĀbid (Arabic: عابد ) is a given name meaning "worshipper". It is based on the Arabic word "ʿIbādah", i.e. worship. The female version of the name is ʿĀbidah.
The Hebrew cognate word with Abd is "ʻEved" (עבד), meaning slave.
See also
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/slavery_1.shtml
- ↑ http://www.quran.com
