in their continuing to follow their religion. Others supposed that it applied only to those permitted to retain their religion, namely the People of the Book. Both views are entirely mistaken. The surah is neither abrogated nor restricted in scope; rather, it remains fully operative, and its general scope is explicit and preserved. Its content cannot possibly be subject to abrogation, for the rulings of monotheism, to which all the messengers called, cannot be abrogated. This surah sets forth pure monotheism; hence it is called Sūrat al-Ikhlās, as explained earlier.
The error arose from their supposition that the verse entailed acquiescence in their religion. They then saw that this acquiescence had ended with the sword, so they said: “It has been abrogated.”
Another group said that this acquiescence had ended for some disbelievers—those without a scripture—and therefore said: “This applies exclusively to the People of the Book.”
Allah forbid that the verse should ever have entailed approving of them or acquiescing in their religion! From the very outset—even when circumstances were hardest for him and his Companions—the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never ceased vehemently condemning them, censuring their religion, exposing its ugliness, forbidding it, and issuing threats and warnings to them at every opportunity and in every assembly. They asked him to stop speaking of their gods and censuring their religion, in return for leaving him alone. Yet he insisted on continuing to condemn them and censure their religion. How, then, can it be said that the verse entailed his acquiescence in their ways? Allah forbid such a false claim! The verse entails only his complete disavowal, as explained earlier: we will never agree with you in the religion you follow, for it is a false religion. It belongs exclusively to you; we have no share in it, nor do you have any share in our true religion. This is the utmost disavowal and repudiation of any agreement with them in their religion. Where, then, is the acquiescence that would call for abrogation or restriction?
Do you suppose that, when they are fought with the sword just as they have been opposed with argument, it is no longer valid to say: “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion”? Rather, this verse remains valid, fully operative and firmly established between believers and disbelievers until Allah purifies His servants and His lands of them.
The same ruling of disavowal applies between the followers of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—those who adhere to his Sunnah—and the adherents of