(10–12) “Whatever you differ over in any matter, its judgment belongs to Allah. That is Allah, my Lord; in Him I place my trust, and to Him I turn. *”

Allah Most High says: “Whatever you differ over in any matter”—whether concerning the fundamentals or subsidiary matters of your religion, regarding which you have failed to agree—“its judgment belongs to Allah”: it must be referred to His Book and to the sunnah of His Messenger. Whatever judgment they give is the truth, and whatever contradicts it is falsehood. “That is Allah, my Lord.” That is, just as He, Exalted is He, is the Lord—the Creator, Provider, and Governor—He is also the One who judges between His servants by His law in all their affairs.

The implication of this noble verse is that the consensus of the Muslim community constitutes conclusive proof. This is because Allah Most High commanded us to refer to Him only those matters over which we differ. As for what we agree upon, the community’s agreement is sufficient, for it is protected from error, and its consensus must necessarily accord with what is found in the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger.

His words, “In Him I place my trust,” mean: I rely upon Him with my heart to secure benefits and ward off harm, trusting that He, Exalted is He, will grant me these things. “And to Him I turn” means: I turn to Him with my heart and body, devoting myself to obeying and worshipping Him.

Allah frequently mentions these two foundations together in His Book because, through their combination, the servant attains perfection; yet he forfeits ⦗754⦘ perfection if he lacks both of them or either one. Thus Allah Most High says: “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,” and: “So worship Him and place your trust in Him.”