and hope for His mercy, fear of His punishment, and the like are all forms of worship of Allah.

This is because worshipping Allah is the purpose He loves and is pleased with, for which He created all beings. As He, Most High, said:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

With this message He sent all the messengers, as Noah said to his people:

“Worship Allah; you have no deity worthy of worship except Him.”

Hūd, Sālih, Shuʿayb and others likewise addressed their peoples. Allah, Most High, said:

“We certainly sent a messenger to every nation, saying, ‘Worship Allah and shun false gods.’ Among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom misguidance became established.”

And He, Most High, said:

“We never sent a messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘There is no god but Me, so worship Me.’”

And He, Most High, said:

“Indeed, this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so fear Me.”

As He said in the other verse:

“O messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I know well what you do.”

He made this binding upon His Messenger until death, saying:

“Worship your Lord until certainty comes to you.”

He also described His angels and prophets as worshippers, saying:

“To Him belong all who are in the heavens and the earth. Those near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary.”

“They glorify Him night and day, without ceasing.”

And He, Most High, said:

“Indeed, those who are near your Lord are not too proud to worship Him. They glorify Him, and to Him they prostrate.”

He condemned those too proud to worship Him, saying: “And said