A closely related, majestic truth is that Allah states in several verses that all created beings are His servants and slaves: “There is none in the heavens and on the earth but will come to the Most Merciful as a servant” (Maryam 19:93). They are all His possession; they hold no share of ownership or authority whatsoever.

In other passages, however, He limits the designation “servants” to a select group among His creation, as when He says: “The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth gently…” (al-Furqan 25:63), after which their lofty qualities are listed. Likewise: “Is Allah not sufficient for His servant?” (al-Zumar 39:36)—another recitation reads “for His servant”—and: “Glory be to Him who took His servant by night…” (al-Isra 17:1); and His words: “If you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our servant…” (al-Baqarah 2:23). In these verses the term refers to those who actually live out servitude to Allah and devote their religion to Him, whatever their rank.

Thus the first kind of servitude embraces both the righteous and the wicked, whereas the second is the hallmark of the righteous alone. The distinction between lordship (rububiyyah) and servitude (ʿubudiyyah) is that lordship is an attribute and act of the Lord, while servitude is an attribute and act of the servants.