And this is the essence of the religion of Islam. The Messengers were sent with this, as Allah Most High said:

“He has ordained for you the religion He enjoined upon Noah, that which We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: uphold the religion and do not become divided over it.”

Allah Most High also said:

“O Messengers, eat of the good things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I know all that you do.”

“And indeed, this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be mindful of Me.”

This, then, is the foundation to which everyone must hold firmly. Each person must desire and love what Allah has commanded them to desire and love, and dislike and hate what Allah has commanded them to dislike and hate.

In this regard, people fall into “four categories”: the most perfect are those who love what Allah and His Messenger love and hate what Allah and His Messenger hate. They desire what Allah and His Messenger have commanded them to desire, and dislike what Allah and His Messenger have commanded them to dislike. They have no love or hatred beyond that. They enjoin what Allah and His Messenger have enjoined, and nothing else; they forbid what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, and nothing else.

Such is the state of the two intimate friends of Allah, the best of creation: Muhammad and Abraham, may Allah bless them both and grant them peace. And indeed,