as He, the Exalted, said: “I did not create the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me.” (51:56)

• For that same purpose the messengers were sent and the scriptures revealed, for He said: “We never sent a messenger before you without revealing to him, ‘There is no deity but I, so worship Me.’” (21:25) And He said: “We certainly raised up a messenger in every nation [proclaiming]: ‘Worship Allah and shun the false gods.’” (16:36) The messengers, peace be upon them, duly fulfilled this charge, calling out to their peoples: “Worship Allah; you have no god other than Him.” (7:89) That is, you have no true object of worship besides Allah, for every deity other than Him is false, as He, the Most High, said: “That is because Allah is the Truth, whereas whatever they invoke beside Him is falsehood; and Allah is the Most High, the Most Great.” (31:30)

• For its sake the disputes—both verbal and armed—erupted between the messengers and their denying peoples. Allah, Exalted is He, said about the people of Noah: “They said, ‘O Noah, you have argued with us and argued much; so bring us what you threaten us with, if you are truly of the truthful.’” (11:32) He said about the people of Hūd: “They said, ‘O Hūd, you have not brought us any clear proof, and we are not about to abandon our gods on your account, nor are we believers in you. We only say that some of our gods have afflicted you with evil.’ He answered, ‘I call Allah to witness—and bear witness yourselves—that I am free of whatever you associate with Him beside Him. So plot against me all together, then give me no respite.’” (11:53–54) Concerning Abraham and his people He said: “He said, ‘Do you worship, apart from Allah, that which can neither benefit you nor harm you in the least? Fie upon you and upon what you worship besides Allah! Do you not understand?’ They said, ‘Burn him and support your gods, if you are going to do anything!’ We said, ‘O fire, be coolness and safety for Abraham.’” (21:66–69) About those who denied Muhammad ﷺ He said: “When those who disbelieve see you, they take you only in ridicule, saying, ‘Is this the one who mentions your gods?’” (21:36) And He said: “They marveled that a warner from among themselves had come to them, and the disbelievers said, ‘This is a sorcerer, a liar. Has he made all the gods into one God? This is indeed something astonishing!’” (38:4–5)