son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: ‘Allah’s servant and His Messenger.’”

Allah described him as His servant in his most perfect states. Concerning the Night Journey, He said:

“Glory be to Him who took His servant by night.”

Concerning revelation, He said:

“Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.”

Concerning his supplication, He said:

“When Allah’s servant stood up calling upon Him, they almost crowded around him in throngs.”

And concerning the challenge, He said:

“If you are in doubt about what We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a surah like it.”

Thus, the whole of religion falls within worship. An authentic report states:

“When Gabriel came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in the form of a Bedouin and asked him about Islam, he replied, ‘It is to testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, to establish prayer, to give zakah, to fast Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if you are able to make the journey.’

“He asked, ‘What, then, is faith?’ He replied, ‘It is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, resurrection after death, and divine decree, both its good and its evil.’

“He asked, ‘What, then, is excellence in worship?’ He replied, ‘It is to worship Allah as though you see Him; and though you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.’ Then, at the end of the hadith, he said, ‘This was Gabriel, who came to teach you your religion.’”

He thus included all of this within religion. The word dīn (religion) encompasses submission and humility. One says, Dintuhu fa-dāna, meaning, “I humbled him, and he became humble.” Likewise, yadīnu Allāha and yadīnu lillāh mean that a person worships Allah, obeys Him and submits to Him. Thus, Allah’s religion consists of worshipping Him, obeying Him and submitting to Him.