gods to be worshipped?” {45} [al-Zukhruf 45]

And He, Most High, says:

“He has ordained for you the religion He enjoined upon Noah, that which We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: establish the religion and do not become divided over it. What you call them to is hard for the polytheists to accept. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns to Him.” {13} [al-Shūrā 13]

And He, Most High, says:

“Or do they have partners who have ordained for them in religion what Allah has not authorized?” [al-Shūrā 21]

And He says:

“O messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I know all that you do. {51} And indeed, this religion of yours is one religion, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.” {52} [al-Mu’minūn 51-52]

Any polytheism that arose among the People of the Book and the followers of the messengers—whether Arabs, Israelites, or others—was borrowed from those outside the People of the Book. Such was the case when ʿAmr ibn Luhayy ibn Qamaʿah, the chief of Khuzāʿah, introduced polytheism among the Arabs, who had followed the religion of Abraham, the leader of those devoted to Allah alone, peace and blessings be upon him. He introduced it among them