Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (3/112)

and His saying, Exalted is He: “Indeed, those who have believed, the Jews, the Sabeans, the Christians, the Magians, and the polytheists…” [al-Hajj 22:17].

And He, Exalted is He, also said: “You will surely find that the people most hostile toward those who believe are the Jews and the polytheists…” [al-Māʾidah 5:82].

As for His describing them with polytheism, that appears in His statement: “They have taken their scholars and monks as lords instead of Allah, and also the Messiah, son of Mary, although they were commanded only to worship a single God—there is no deity but Him. Transcendent is He above what they associate with Him.” [al-Tawbah 9:31].

Thus He declares Himself far above their act of ascribing partners, for the foundation of their religion contained no polytheism. Allah has sent His messengers only with monotheism and the prohibition of idolatry, as He, Exalted is He, said: “Ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We ever appoint, apart from the Most Merciful, any gods to be worshipped?” [al-Zukhruf 43:45].

وَقَوْلِهِ - تَعَالَى -: {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئِينَ وَالنَّصَارَى وَالْمَجُوسَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا} [الحج: ١٧] . وَقَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {لَتَجِدَنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَدَاوَةً لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الْيَهُودَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا} [المائدة: ٨٢] . وَأَمَّا وَصْفُهُمْ بِالشِّرْكِ فَفِي قَوْلِهِ: {اتَّخَذُوا أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَانَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَالْمَسِيحَ ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ} [التوبة: ٣١] . فَنَزَّهَ نَفْسَهُ عَنْ شِرْكِهِمْ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ أَصْلَ دِينِهِمْ لَيْسَ فِيهِ شِرْكٌ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِنَّمَا بَعَثَ رُسُلَهُ بِالتَّوْحِيدِ، وَالنَّهْيِ عَنِ الشِّرْكِ، كَمَا قَالَ - تَعَالَى -: {وَاسْأَلْ مَنْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رُسُلِنَا أَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ دُونِ الرَّحْمَنِ آلِهَةً يُعْبَدُونَ} [الزخرف: ٤٥] .