The Messengers—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them—were sent to perfect and affirm the natural disposition, not to transform or change it. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Every child is born upon the natural disposition; then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian.”

Allah Most High said:

“So set your face towards the religion, inclining to pure faith—the natural disposition Allah instilled in mankind. There is no altering Allah’s creation. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know.”

An authentic hadith reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘I created My servants devoted to Me alone, but the devils led them astray, forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority.’”

The upright faith consists in steadfastly devoting one’s religion sincerely to Allah. This entails loving Him Most High and humbling oneself before Him, associating nothing with Him in either love or submission. Worship combines the utmost love with the utmost humility, and none but Allah alone deserves this. Likewise, one must hold Allah alone in awe, be mindful of Him alone, and place one’s trust in Him alone.

The Messenger is to be obeyed and loved: lawful is what he has declared lawful, forbidden is what he has forbidden, and religion is what he has prescribed.

Allah Most High said:

“Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah and is mindful of Him—it is they who will triumph.”

Allah Most High also said:

“If only they had been content with what Allah and His Messenger gave them and had said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us. Allah will give us of His bounty, and so will His Messenger. To Allah alone we turn with hope.’”