over them is that they worship Him and associate nothing with Him. Do you know what the servants’ right over Allah is if they do that?’ I said, ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘Their right over Him is that He should not punish them.’”

These polytheists were therefore among the most ignorant of people and the most hostile towards Allah and His Messenger. They sought to nullify His right, commands and prohibitions by an argument that neither they nor any rational person would allow to be used to nullify a created being’s rights, commands or prohibitions. Likewise, they attributed partners and daughters to Allah, although none of them would accept his own slave as a partner or daughters for himself. Allah Most High said:

“They attribute to Allah what they themselves dislike, and their tongues assert the lie that the best awaits them. Without doubt, the Fire awaits them, and they will be abandoned.”

And Allah Most High said:

“When one of them is given news of what he attributes to the Most Merciful, his face darkens and he is filled with suppressed grief.”

And Allah Most High said:

“He sets forth for you an example drawn from yourselves: do you have, among those whom your right hands possess, partners who share equally in what We have provided for you, whom you fear as you fear one another?”

That is, as some of you fear others. Likewise, Allah Most High says:

“Why, when you heard it, did the believing men and women not think well of one another?”

And He says:

“So repent to your Creator and kill one another.”

And He says:

“Let us summon our sons and your sons, our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves.”

The arguments of those who reject the messengers are always invalid and contradictory. Their views are therefore conflicting, and whoever is turned away from it is indeed turned away.

Allah Most High said:

“They never bring you an argument