and call them to worship Me.” Al-Zajjāj adopted this interpretation. Ibn Abī Najīh reported that Mujāhid explained the verse:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

He said: “That I might command them and forbid them.”

Sulaymān ibn ‘Āmir reported that al-Rabī‘ ibn Anas said: “I created them only for worship.”

As for the view that the believers are meant, Ibn Muslih reported that al-Dahhāk said concerning the verse:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

“This applies specifically to the believers.”

As for the view that all of them have performed the worship for which they were created, al-Wālibī reported that Ibn ‘Abbās explained “except to worship Me” as: “Except to acknowledge their servitude to Me, willingly or unwillingly.”

Al-Suddī said: “He created them for worship. Some worship is beneficial, while other worship is of no benefit:

‘If you ask them who created the heavens and the earth, they will surely say, “Allah.”’

“This is worship on their part, but it does not benefit them while they associate partners with Him.”