or out of greed. Rather, the Shaykh means someone who deliberately prostrates to Allah before an idol, giving the polytheists the impression that he is prostrating to their idol out of fear of them, as indicated by his words: “This may be permissible when he is among polytheists and fears for his safety.”

As for his statement, “It has been related that some Muslim scholars and scholars of the People of the Book did something similar among a group of polytheists, eventually calling them to Islam, whereupon they embraced Islam through them. They did not openly express their opposition to them at the outset,” it presents difficulties from two angles:

First: he mentions “scholars of the People of the Book” alongside Muslim scholars. Yet it is well known that scholars of the People of the Book would not call polytheists to Islam, whereas he concludes by saying: “Eventually calling them to Islam, whereupon they embraced Islam.”

The answer:

It may be said that by “scholars of the People of the Book,” he meant those who concealed their faith among their polytheistic people, such as the Christians. They were Muslims inwardly, although outwardly counted among the People of the Book. Shaykh al-Islām mentions this category when explaining certain verses, such as the words of Allah Most High:

“Indeed, among the People of the Book are those who believe in Allah, in what has been revealed to you, and in what has been revealed to them, humbly submitting to Allah, never trading