capable of attaining this knowledge, and the view that they were born receptive both to it and to becoming Jewish or Christian, either equally or with a greater receptivity to Islam.

As for the views that they were born with Islam as their natural disposition, or acknowledging the Creator—even if that alone does not constitute faith—or possessing the initial knowledge imparted on the day the covenant was taken from them, these three do not conflict; rather, they establish the intended point.

The Book and the Sunnah attest to what these views agree upon: that people are naturally disposed to Allah’s religion, which consists in knowing and acknowledging Him. This means that such knowledge and acknowledgment are entailed by their natural disposition and necessarily arise within them unless something obstructs it. Their arising therefore depends not on the presence of a condition, but on the absence of an impediment.

For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not stipulate any condition for what the natural disposition entails. Rather, he mentioned what prevents its realization, saying:

“Every child is born upon the natural disposition; then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian.”

Likewise, Allah Most High says:

“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth—the natural disposition with which Allah has created people. There is no altering Allah’s creation. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know. * Turning to Him, fear Him, establish prayer, and do not be among the polytheists, * those who divided their religion and became sects, each faction rejoicing in what it has.”

Allah thus declares that the polytheists are divided.

For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in the authentic hadith:

“Allah is pleased with three things for you: that you worship Him without associating anything with Him, and that you hold firmly, all together, to the rope of Allah