they brought from Allah, Exalted is He, concerning revealed laws and other matters, and that He has obliged His servants to believe in Him, affirm His oneness, worship Him, and associate nothing with Him. For He says in His Book, which He revealed to His Messenger:
“Whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger—We have prepared a blazing Fire for the disbelievers.” [al-Fath: 13]
He, Exalted is He, also says:
“What is the matter with them that they do not believe?” [al-Inshiqāq: 20] “And when the Quran is recited to them, they do not prostrate?” [al-Inshiqāq: 21] “Rather, those who disbelieve persist in denial.” [al-Inshiqāq: 22] “And Allah knows best what they harbor.” [al-Inshiqāq: 23] “So give them tidings of a painful punishment,” [al-Inshiqāq: 24] “except those who believe and do righteous deeds: theirs is an unending reward.” [al-Inshiqāq: 25]
He, Exalted is He, also says: “Believe in Allah and His Messenger.” [al-Nisā’: 136] A command entails obligation. Those among our scholars who hold that a command does not entail obligation nevertheless agree with us that the command to believe entails obligation, because of the consensus supporting it.
He, Exalted is He, says:
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may become mindful of Him.” [al-Baqarah: 21]
He, Exalted is He, also says:
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him.” [al-Nisā’: 36]
He, Exalted is He, also says:
“So seek provision from Allah, worship Him, and give thanks to Him. To Him you will be returned.” [al-‘Ankabūt: 17]
He, Exalted is He, also says:
“O you who believe, bow down, prostrate yourselves, worship your Lord, and do good, so that you may succeed.” [al-Hajj: 77]
There are many such passages in the Quran. As for His words, Exalted is He:
“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [al-Dhāriyāt: 56]
This verse is general in wording, but its generality is not intended. It refers to the blessed among jinn and mankind, for they are the ones whom Allah, Exalted is He, created to worship Him. As for the wretched among them, He created them only for the disbelief and misguidance that He facilitated for them and caused them to engage in. Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam; and whoever He wills to lead astray, He makes his breast tight and constricted, as though he were climbing into the sky.” [al-An‘ām: 125],