who do not know.1

He has made the whole affair stand upon sincerity to Allah and justice in every matter, as the Most High says: “Say, ‘My Lord has commanded justice; set your faces straight at every place of prostration and call upon Him, devoting the religion purely to Him. Just as He originated you, so shall you return: a party He guided, and a party upon whom misguidance became due.’”2

The Prophet—may peace and blessings be upon him—purified tawḥid (monotheism) from every subtle and manifest form of shirk, so much so that he said, “Whoever swears by anything other than Allah has committed shirk,”3 a report narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who judged it sound.

He also said, “Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers; whoever must take an oath, let him swear by Allah or keep silent.”4 This wording is well-known in the authentic collections.

He further said, “None of you should say, ‘Whatever Allah wills and whatever Muhammad wills’; rather say, ‘Whatever Allah wills, then whatever Muhammad wills.’”5

On another occasion a man told him, “Whatever Allah wills and you will,” whereupon he replied, “Have you made me a peer to Allah? Rather say: whatever Allah alone wills.”6

It is likewise reported that he said, “Shirk in this community is more inconspicuous than the creeping of an ant.”7