when they combine this with the conception of divine oneness held by speculative theologians who affirm divine decree and will without affirming love and hatred, pleasure and displeasure. They say that “divine oneness” means oneness in lordship, and that “divinity” means the power to create. They do not understand Allah’s exclusive right to worship, nor do they know that a deity is an object of worship and devotion, and that merely acknowledging Allah as the Lord of everything does not constitute affirmation of His oneness until one testifies that none is worthy of worship but Allah. As Allah Most High says:

“Most of them do not believe in Allah without associating others with Him.”

Ikrimah said: “You ask them who created the heavens and the earth, and they say, ‘Allah,’ yet they worship others besides Him.”

These people claim spiritual realization and annihilation in divine oneness. They say that this is the pinnacle of knowledge, and that when someone possessing spiritual knowledge reaches this station, he no longer regards a good deed as good or an evil deed as evil, because he witnesses Allah’s universal lordship and His all-encompassing sustaining of creation. As many of the great shaykhs as Allah willed have fallen into this error. There is no might or power except through Allah.

The utmost these people attain in affirming divine oneness is the same affirmation made by the idol-worshipping polytheists, of whom Allah said:

“Say, ‘To whom belong the earth and whoever is in it, if you know?’”

“They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Then will you not take heed?’”

“Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the mighty Throne?’”

“They will say, ‘They belong to Allah.’ Say, ‘Then will you not fear Him?’”

“Say, ‘In whose hand is the dominion of all things, who grants protection, while none can grant protection against Him, if you know?’”

“They will say, ‘It belongs to Allah.’ Say, ‘How, then, are you deluded?’”

Allah Most High also says:

“If you ask them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they will surely say, ‘Allah.’ How, then, are they turned away?”

“Allah extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts it for him. Indeed, Allah is, of every