Consequently, all people are required to follow the creed of Abraham: affirming Allah alone without partner, believing every messenger Allah sent and every Book He revealed, and turning away from false and deviant religions.

For Abraham turned away from everything contrary to monotheism and disavowed polytheism and its adherents.

(96–97) “Indeed, the first House established for mankind was the one at Bakkah—a blessed place and a source of guidance for all worlds. In it are clear signs, including the Station of Abraham. Whoever enters it shall be safe. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by everyone able to make the journey. Whoever disbelieves—Allah is indeed free of need of all worlds.”

The Exalted declares the greatness of His Sacred House. It was the first house Allah established on earth for His worship and the remembrance of Him. It contains abundant blessings, many forms of guidance, and numerous benefits and advantages for all worlds. It also contains clear signs recalling the stations of Abraham, the beloved of Allah, and his movements during the pilgrimage; and after him, they recall the stations of the chief and leader of the messengers.

In it is the security (1) whereby anyone who enters it is safe by Allah’s decree and must be granted safety under sacred law and religion.

Because it encompasses all these matters—of which these are merely a summary, while their details are numerous—Allah made pilgrimage to it obligatory upon legally accountable persons who are able to make the journey. An able person is one who can reach it by whatever means of transport suits him and has provisions for the journey. Hence Allah used wording applicable to every new means of transport that has arisen or will arise.

This is one of the signs of the Quran: its rulings are valid for every time and circumstance, and complete well-being cannot be attained without them. Whoever submits to this and fulfills it is among the rightly guided believers. Whoever rejects it and does not commit himself to pilgrimage to Allah’s House is outside the religion. Whoever disbelieves—Allah is indeed free of need of all worlds.

(98–99) “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, why do you disbelieve in Allah’s signs when Allah is Witness to all that you do?’ * Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, why do you turn believers away from Allah’s path, seeking to make it crooked while you yourselves are witnesses? Allah is not unaware of what you do.’”

Having previously established the proofs against the People of the Scripture—even though they already knew the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as well as they knew their own sons—Allah rebuked those among them who obstinately rejected His signs and turned people away from His path. Their common people followed their scholars. Allah, exalted is He, knows their condition and will recompense them for it in the fullest and most complete manner.

(100–101) “O you who believe, if you obey a group of those who were given the Scripture, they will turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed. * How could you disbelieve when Allah’s verses are recited to you and His Messenger is among you? Whoever holds fast to Allah has indeed been guided to a straight path.”

After establishing the proofs against the People of the Scripture and rebuking them for their disbelief and obstinacy, Allah warned His believing servants against being deceived by them. He explained that this group among them is intent on harming you and turning you back to disbelief after faith.

Yet praise be to Allah, O believers: after Allah blessed you with the religion, you saw its signs, beauties, merits, and virtues; Allah’s Messenger was among you, guiding you to everything conducive to your well-being; and you held fast to Allah and to His rope, which is His religion. It is therefore impossible for them to turn you away from your religion. A religion built upon such principles and pillars—firmly founded and radiant with light—draws hearts toward it, takes full possession of them, and leads Allah’s servants to the loftiest goal and finest objective.

“Whoever holds fast to Allah”—that is, relies upon Him and seeks refuge under His protection—“has indeed been guided to a straight path.” This encourages holding fast to Allah and explains that it is the way to safety and guidance.

(102–105) “O you who believe, fear Allah as He deserves to be feared, and do not die except as Muslims. * Hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allah, and do not be divided. Remember Allah’s favor upon you: you were enemies, but He united your hearts, and by His favor you became brothers. You were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make His signs clear to you so that you may be guided. * Let there be among you a community that calls to goodness, enjoins what is right, and forbids what is wrong. It is they who shall prosper. * Do not be like those who became divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. They shall have a tremendous punishment.”

In these verses, Allah urges His believing servants to give thanks for His immense blessings by fearing Him as He deserves to be feared, obeying Him and abandoning disobedience to Him with complete sincerity. He commands them to uphold their religion and hold fast to His rope, which He extended to them and made the bond between them and Himself—namely, His religion and His Book. They must unite upon it, refrain from division, and remain steadfast upon it until death.

He reminded them of their condition before this blessing: they had been divided enemies, but He united them through this religion, joined their hearts, and made them brothers. They had been on the brink of a pit of Fire, but He rescued them from misery and set them upon the path of happiness.

“Thus does Allah make His signs clear to you so that you may be guided”—to gratitude toward Allah and to holding fast to His rope. He then commanded them to bring this state to completion by adopting the strongest means through which they could uphold their religion: a sufficient group among them must undertake the task.

“They call to goodness”—namely, the religion, including its fundamentals, branches, and ordinances.

“They enjoin what is right”—that is, what revealed law and sound reason recognize as good.

“They forbid what is wrong”—that is, what revealed law and sound reason recognize as evil.

“It is they who shall prosper”—attaining everything desired and being saved from everything feared.

This group includes scholars and teachers; those who undertake to address and exhort people, collectively or individually; and those entrusted with public religious oversight, who require people to establish the prayers, pay zakat, and observe the ordinances of the religion, and who forbid them from wrongdoing.

Thus, anyone who calls people to any good, whether generally or in a particular matter, or offers counsel of a general or specific nature, falls within the scope of this noble verse.

Allah then forbade them from following the path of those who became divided. The religion and clear proofs had come to them, requiring them to uphold it and remain united, yet they split apart, differed, and became sects. This did not arise from ignorance