(64) “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you: that we worship none but Allah, associate nothing with Him, and do not take one another as lords besides Allah.’ But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims.’”
That is: Say to the People of the Scripture—the Jews and Christians—“Come to a word that is equitable between us and you.” In other words, come and let us unite upon it. It is the word upon which the prophets and messengers agreed and which none opposed except the obstinate and the misguided. It is not exclusive to either one of us, but is shared between us and you. This exemplifies fairness in speech and equity in debate.
He then explained it by saying, “that we worship none but Allah and associate nothing with Him.” Thus, we single out Allah alone for worship and devote our love, fear, and hope exclusively to Him. We do not associate with Him any prophet, angel, saint, statue, idol, animal, or inanimate object. “And do not take one another as lords besides Allah.” Rather, all obedience is due to Allah and His messengers, and we do not obey created beings in disobedience to the Creator, for doing so places created beings in the station of lordship.
When the People of the Scripture—or anyone else—are called to this, if they respond, they become like you, possessing the same rights and bearing the same obligations. But if they turn away, they are obstinate followers of their own desires. So call them to witness ⦗134⦘ that you are Muslims.
Perhaps the wisdom in this is that when you say this to them while you are the true possessors of knowledge, it provides further proof against them in addition to the decisive argument already established—just as the Most High called the people of knowledge as witnesses against the obstinate. Moreover, once you have embraced Islam and believed, Allah attaches no importance to others’ refusal to embrace Islam, on account of their lack of purity and the wickedness of their inner intentions. As the Most High says, “Say, ‘Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall upon their faces in prostration,’” to the end of the verse.
Furthermore, when specious doubts assail the creed of faith, this calls upon the believer to renew his faith and openly declare his Islam, thereby affirming his certainty and giving thanks for his Lord’s blessing.