not monotheists. I explained that the philosophers he mentioned were either polytheists who held polytheism to be obligatory and based their allegiances and enmities upon it, or Sabians who regarded polytheism as permissible and allowed the worship of beings other than Allah. Their books are filled with this. Thus, at best they are Sabians, or the scholars of the Sabians. Were Nimrod and his people, Pharaoh and his people, and others besides them anything but members of their ranks? Were the stars worshipped, and temples and idols erected for them, except on the advice of these philosophizers? Indeed, were righteous people worshipped, their graves attended with devotion, and their images fashioned, except on their advice?

Even those among them who outwardly professed Islam wrote works on associating partners with Allah and worshipping stars and idols, describing the benefits of this polytheism and the aims it could accomplish. Anyone familiar with the religion of the messengers—Muhammad and others—necessarily knows that they were sent to prohibit this very polytheism. All the messengers were sent with this message, as Allah Most High says:

“We certainly sent a messenger to every nation: ‘Worship Allah and shun false deities.’” [al-Nahl 36]

Allah Most High also says:

“And ask those of Our messengers whom We sent before you: Did We appoint any deities to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful?” {45} [al-Zukhruf 45]

And He says:

“We never sent a messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.’” {25} [al-Anbiyā’ 25]

The Muslims agree that the religion of the People of the Book—the Jews and Christians—is better than the religion of those who have no revealed scripture, such as the polytheists and Sabians