Thus the Prophet invited him to Islam in the letter he sent, and—still in Sūrah Āl ʿImrān—Allah also says:

“It is not for any human being to whom Allah has given the Scripture, judgment, and prophethood to then say to the people, ‘Be servants to me instead of Allah.’ Rather, he would say, ‘Be devoted to the Lord, since you have been teaching the Scripture and have been studying it.’” (3:79)

(79)

“Nor would he command you to take the angels and the prophets as lords. Would he command you to disbelief after you have already submitted?” (3:80)

(80)

In this verse pure monotheism is affirmed, and whoever takes the angels and the prophets as lords is declared an unbeliever—so what, then, of those who take rabbis and monks as lords? Immediately afterward Allah mentions faith in the Seal of the Messengers, saying:

“And [recall] when Allah took the covenant of the prophets: ‘Whatever I give you of Scripture and wisdom, then a messenger comes to you confirming what you already possess, you must certainly believe in him and support him.’ He said, ‘Do you acknowledge and accept My covenant on that condition?’ They said, ‘We acknowledge.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.’” (3:81)

(81)

“So whoever turns away after that—it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.” (3:82)

(82)

“Do they then seek a religion other than Allah’s, while to Him submits everyone in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will all be returned?” (3:83)

(83)

“Say: ‘We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in what Moses and Jesus received, and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’” (3:84)

(84)

“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.” (3:85)

(85)