and so He accepts no other religion from anyone. Allah Most High said:

“Whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.”

Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Messiah, and all the followers of the prophets—peace be upon them—followed Islam. Noah said:

“And I have been commanded to be among the Muslims.”

Allah said concerning Abraham:

“Who would turn away from the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself? We certainly chose him in this world, and in the Hereafter he will surely be among the righteous.”

“When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds.’”

“Abraham enjoined this upon his sons, as did Jacob: ‘My sons, Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims.’”

“Moses said, ‘My people, if you have believed in Allah, then place your trust in Him, if you are Muslims.’”

The magicians said:

“Our Lord, pour patience upon us and cause us to die as Muslims.”

Joseph said:

“Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”

Allah Most High said:

“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, containing guidance and light. The prophets who submitted to Allah judged by it for the Jews.”

He said concerning the disciples:

“And when I inspired the disciples to believe in Me and My messenger, they said, ‘We believe, so bear witness that we are Muslims.’”

The religion of Islam rests upon two foundations: that we worship Allah alone, without any partner, and that we worship Him according to the religion He has prescribed. This consists of what the messengers were commanded to observe, whether as an obligation or a recommendation. Thus, in every age, He is worshipped according to what He commanded in that age.

When the law of the Torah was authoritative, those who acted according to it were Muslims; the same applied to the law of the Gospel. Likewise, in the early days of Islam, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed facing Jerusalem, his prayer in that direction was part of Islam. When he was commanded to face the Kaaba, praying toward it was part of Islam, whereas turning away from it toward the Rock was a departure from the religion of