- “Who is better in religion than one who surrenders himself wholly to Allah, while doing good, and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining to true faith? And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.”
That is, no one’s religion is better than that of one who combines sincere devotion to the One worshipped with surrendering himself wholly to Allah. This signifies the heart’s submission, its turning to Him in repentance and sincere devotion, and the turning of one’s face and all one’s limbs to Allah.
At the same time as possessing this sincerity and submission, “while doing good”—that is, following Allah’s revealed law, with which He sent His messengers and for which He revealed His Books, making it the path of the elect among His creation and their followers.
“And follows the religion of Abraham”—that is, his faith and revealed law—“inclining to true faith”: turning away from polytheism toward monotheism, and away from turning to created beings toward turning to the Creator. “And Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend.” Intimate friendship is the highest form of love. This rank was attained by the two intimate friends, Muhammad and Abraham, peace and blessings be upon them both. Allah’s love, however, extends to the believers generally. Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend because he fulfilled what he had been commanded and carried out that with which he was tested. Allah therefore made him a leader for humanity, took him as an intimate friend, and exalted his renown throughout the worlds.