Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—said:

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Among the principles discussed earlier, I explained that “Islam”—the religion of Allah with which He revealed His Books and sent His messengers—means that the servant submits to Allah, Lord of all worlds. He surrenders to Allah alone, without partner, and devotes himself exclusively to Him, worshipping Him and no other. This is made clear by the finest of words and the foundation of Islam: the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.

Islam has two opposites: arrogance and associating partners with Allah. Thus, it is reported that “Noah, peace be upon him, enjoined his sons to declare, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah’ and ‘Glory be to Allah,’ and forbade them arrogance and associating partners with Allah,” in a hadith I have cited elsewhere. Whoever is too arrogant to worship Allah does not worship Him and therefore does not surrender to Him. Whoever worships Him and also worships another associates a partner with Him and therefore is not exclusively devoted to Him; rather, his devotion is divided.

The word “Islam” encompasses submission and purity of devotion, which is sincerity. It is known that all the messengers were sent with Islam in its general sense, which encompasses these meanings. As Allah Most High says:

“The prophets who submitted to Allah judged by it.”

Moses said:

“If you believe in Allah, then put your trust in Him, if you have submitted to Him.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Yes, whoever submits himself to Allah while doing good will have his reward with