—an image that is nothing but the handiwork of man!

Thus, those who have chosen this “prayer” over the prayer of one who, when he rises to pray, first purifies his limbs, his clothes, and his body from every impurity, faces the Sacred House, magnifies Allah, praises and glorifies Him, extols Him with the praise He deserves, then converses with Him (1) using His own words that contain the finest (2) praise, thanksgiving, exaltation, and affirmation of His oneness; who singles Him out for worship and reliance, and asks of Him the loftiest request—guidance to the path of His good pleasure, the path reserved for those upon whom He has bestowed His favor, not the path of the two communities who incurred wrath, the Jews, nor that of the misguided, the Christians—then gives each limb its due share of humility, submission, and servitude while offering the highest praise and glorification to Allah, Lord of all worlds; who neither turns away from his Lord with his face or his heart, nor speaks a single word to anyone, but rather his heart trembles before his Master and he turns to Him with both heart and face; who neither breaks wind in his prayer nor places before his eyes a man-made image to invoke and implore—

those who have preferred that “prayer,” which in reality is mockery of the One worshiped—something no creature would accept for himself, let alone the Creator—over this prayer, which, were it presented to anyone possessing the slightest shred of reason, the disparity between the two would be plain as day, are the very people who have chosen to deny His Messenger and servant instead of believing in him and affirming him!

Hence, when a rational person weighs what they have preferred and inclined toward against what they have spurned, it becomes clear to him (3) that these people have chosen misguidance over guidance, and sheer error over right conduct,