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 and 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: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar