Thus, if worship, obedience and humility before Him establish His supremacy in the servants’ hearts—just as He is Most High in Himself, and just as His word becomes supreme in their hearts while it is supreme in itself—then likewise, the purpose of declaring His greatness is that He should be greater than everything else in the servant’s estimation. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to ‘Adī ibn Hātim:

“O ‘Adī, what makes you turn away? Is it the declaration, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah’? Do you know of any god other than Allah? O ‘Adī, what makes you turn away? Is it the declaration, ‘Allah is greater’? Is there anything greater than Allah?”

This refutes those who take akbar (“greater”) to mean merely kabīr (“great”). The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said:

“We prophets have one religion.”

That religion is Islam: submission to Allah, not to anyone else, with worship, obedience and humility devoted to Him. This is the true meaning of “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” Undoubtedly, nothing other than this is accepted. He, glorified is He, is to be obeyed in every age according to what He commanded in that age. Thus, after Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent, Islam can consist only in following what he brought and obeying him. This is the religion of Abraham, which none turns away from except one who makes a fool of himself.

Abraham is the “exemplar,” one who is followed, just as a “role model” is one whose example is emulated. He is the “leader,” as in His words:

“I will make you a leader for the people.”

He is “devoutly obedient”; devout obedience means constant obedience, for he obeys Allah at all times. The “upright monotheist” is one who turns unswervingly to his Lord, and to none besides Him.

And His saying:

“Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by a cubit; and whoever draws near to Me by a cubit,