इबादत (ibaadat)

noun A single-sense noun meaning worship or devotional prayer, borrowed from Arabic/Persian and used mainly in Islamic religious contexts, though it also appears in poetic and figurative speech.
Sense 1 : worship, devotional prayer
noun, feminine
Synonyms: पूजा (poojaa, used more in Hindu contexts), प्रार्थना (praarthnaa), बंदगी (bandgii, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word carries a distinctly Islamic devotional flavor -- you will hear it in the context of namaz, mosques, and Sufi poetry, much as पूजा (poojaa) belongs to Hindu ritual life. It has also become a popular romantic metaphor in Bollywood lyrics and shayari, where loving someone is described as इबादत (ibaadat), elevating the beloved to something sacred.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for पूजा (poojaa) in every religious context, but इबादत (ibaadat) is the word used specifically for Islamic worship (namaz, prayer, devotion to God/Allah) -- using पूजा (poojaa) in a Muslim context can sound off to native ears. 2) In poetic or filmi Hindi, इबादत (ibaadat) is often stretched metaphorically to mean deep devotion to a person or cause (e.g. loving someone as if it were worship) -- learners may miss this figurative extension and take it only literally.
Sample Sentences:
मुसलमान दिन में पाँच बार इबादत करते हैं। Muslims perform worship five times a day.
(musalmaan din men paanch baar ibaadat karte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह मस्जिद में इबादत कर रहा है। He is worshipping in the mosque right now.
(vah masjid men ibaadat kar rahaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बुज़ुर्ग औरत ने रातभर इबादत की। The old woman worshipped all night long.
(buzurg aurat ne raatbhar ibaadat kii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इबादत करो, इससे दिल को सुकून मिलता है। Worship -- it brings peace to the heart.
(ibaadat karo, isse dil ko sukoon miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
शायर ने लिखा कि उसका प्यार भी एक इबादत है। The poet wrote that his love too is a kind of worship.
(shaayar ne likhaa ki uskaa pyaar bhii ek ibaadat hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर वक़्त मिलता तो मैं भी हर सुबह इबादत करता। If I had the time, I too would worship every morning.
(agar vaqt miltaa to main bhii har subah ibaadat kartaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि उसकी इबादत क़ुबूल हो जाए। Let's hope his worship is accepted.
(ummiid hai ki uskii ibaadat qubool ho jaae।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
गाने में कहा गया है कि मुहब्बत ही सबसे बड़ी इबादत है। The song says that love itself is the greatest worship.
(gaane men kahaa gayaa hai ki muhabbat hii sabse badii ibaadat hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
इबादत में ऐसा डूब जाओ कि दुनिया भूल जाए। Immerse yourself in worship so completely that you forget the world.
(ibaadat men aisaa doob jaao ki duniyaa bhool jaae।)
Register: Devotional -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
उसकी आँखों में इबादत जैसी शिद्दत थी जब वह उसे देखता था। There was an intensity like worship in his eyes when he used to look at her.
(uskii aankhon men ibaadat jaisii shiddat thii jab vah use dekhtaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): इबादत (ibaadat)
(sg.f.oblique): इबादत (ibaadat)
(pl.f.direct): इबादतें (ibaadten)
(pl.f.oblique): इबादतों (ibaadton)