He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—also said:

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The term “Islam” is used in two ways: transitively, as in His words:

“Who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allah while doing good?”

And His words:

“Say, ‘I have submitted myself to Allah, and so have those who follow me.’ And say to those who were given the Scripture and to the unlettered, ‘Have you submitted yourselves?’”

And the rest of the verse. Likewise, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said in his supplication before sleep:

“I have submitted myself to You.”

It is also used intransitively, as in His words:

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

And His words:

“To Him has submitted whoever is in the heavens and the earth.”

And His words concerning Bilqīs:

“I submit with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.”

It encompasses two meanings: first, obedience and submission; second, directing that submission sincerely and exclusively to Allah, as in His words:

“Allah presents an example: a man shared by quarrelling partners, and a man belonging exclusively to one man.”

Its defining declaration is, “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” It has two senses.