or unwillingly, and to Him they will be returned?” And His words:

“Say, ‘Shall we invoke besides Allah what can neither benefit nor harm us, and turn back on our heels after Allah has guided us, like someone whom the devils have led astray in the land, bewildered, while his companions call him to guidance, “Come to us”?’ Say, ‘Indeed, Allah’s guidance is the true guidance, and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all worlds.’”

“‘And to establish prayer and fear Him.’”

The verb is also used transitively, coupled with doing good, as in His words, Most High:

“They say, ‘None will enter Paradise unless they are Jews or Christians.’ Those are their wishful claims. Say, ‘Produce your proof, if you are truthful.’”

“Yes indeed! Whoever submits himself wholly to Allah while doing good will have his reward with his Lord. No fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.”

And His words:

“Who is better in religion than one who submits himself wholly to Allah while doing good and follows the faith of Abraham, who was devoted to Allah alone? And Allah took Abraham as a close friend.”

He thus denies that any religion could be better than this religion: submitting oneself wholly to Allah while doing good. He also declares that everyone who submits himself wholly to Allah while doing good will have his reward with his Lord, and that no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. This comprehensive statement and universal proposition establish a rebuttal to those who claim that none will enter Paradise unless they follow Judaism or Christianity.

These two qualities—submitting oneself wholly to Allah and doing good—are the two principles mentioned earlier: that deeds be done sincerely for Allah and be correct, conforming to the Sunnah and the revealed law. For submitting oneself wholly to Allah entails directing one’s purpose and intention to Allah, as