and do not be divided, and that you offer sincere counsel to those whom Allah has placed in authority over you.”

Allah Most High has said:

“He has ordained for you the religion He enjoined upon Noah, and that which We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: ‘Establish the religion and do not be divided therein.’ What you call the polytheists to is difficult for them to accept.”

Allah Most High also said:

“Mankind was one community; then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of glad tidings and as warners.”

And Allah Most High said:

“O messengers, eat of the wholesome things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I know what you do. * Indeed, this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so fear Me. * But they divided their religion among themselves into factions, each faction rejoicing in what it has.”

As for the foundation of the religion upon which Allah created His servants, He said:

“I created My servants as upright monotheists, but the devils led them astray, forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority.”

This foundation encompasses two principles:

The first is worshipping Allah alone, without any partner. He is to be worshipped only in ways that He loves and has commanded. This is the purpose for which Allah brought creation into being. Its opposite is polytheism and religious innovation.

The second is the lawfulness of wholesome things that help one achieve that purpose; these constitute the means. Its opposite is prohibiting what is lawful.

The first kind of violation is widespread among Christians, while the second—prohibiting wholesome things—is widespread among Jews. Both are found among the polytheists.