his Lord.”

And when his Lord said to Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend, “Submit,” he replied:

“I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds.”

“Abraham enjoined this upon his sons, as did Jacob”—who likewise enjoined it upon his sons—“O my sons! Allah has chosen this religion for you, so do not die except as Muslims.”

Joseph said:

“Cause me to die as a Muslim.”

There are many similar passages.

It is known that Abraham, Allah’s intimate friend, is the leader of the upright Muslim monotheists who came after him. Allah made him a model and a leader, and the messengers from among his descendants brought this same religion. The Jews and Christians then introduced innovations that took them outside the religion of Allah they had been commanded to follow: Islam in its general sense. This is why we have been commanded to say:

“Guide us to the straight path—the path of those You have blessed, not those who have incurred Your anger, nor those who have gone astray.”

It is authentically reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The Jews have incurred Allah’s anger, and the Christians have gone astray.”

Each of these two communities departed from Islam and became predominantly characterized by one of its two opposites. Arrogance predominates among the Jews, while associating partners with Allah is less common among them. Among the Christians, associating partners with Allah predominates, while arrogance is less common.

Allah has explained this in His Book, saying concerning the Jews:

“And when We took the covenant from the Children of Israel: ‘Worship none but Allah.’”

This is the foundation of Islam. The passage continues up to His words:

“And We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear signs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you grew arrogant, rejecting some and killing others?”

This interrogative wording expresses condemnation of their conduct and blame for it. They are blamed only for what they actually did. Thus, it is clear that whenever a messenger came to them with something contrary to the desires of