present in every place, or identify Him with all existence. The common people among them are more inclined to the latter, for hearts cannot help worshipping something that exists. The children of Adam have associated partners with Allah, worshipping all manner of created beings, as Allah has willed. Thus, when presented with something that entails worshipping everything—as the proponents of unionism have done—they do not recoil from this as they recoil from leaving their hearts entirely devoid of worship of anything at all.
These people openly associate partners with Allah, whereas sheer denial holds greater sway over the hearts of the others. Hence, the latter exhibit an arrogant refusal to worship and a hardness of heart not found in the former. Both arrogant refusal and associating partners with Allah are incompatible with Islam, with which Allah sent His messengers and revealed His Books. For Islam means worshipping Allah alone, without any partner. Whoever worships Allah alongside another has associated partners with Him, as did the polytheists among the Arabs and others. And whoever