his people. He was not sent to al-Khidr, nor was al-Khidr obliged to follow him. Rather, al-Khidr said to him:

“I possess knowledge from Allah Most High which Allah has taught me and which you do not know. And you possess knowledge from Allah which Allah has taught you and which I do not know.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“A prophet would be sent specifically to his own people, whereas I have been sent to all mankind.”

Allah Most High said:

“Say, ‘O mankind, I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. His is the dominion of the heavens and the earth.’”

And He Most High said:

“We have sent you only as a bearer of good tidings and a warner to all mankind.”

(The second group) consists of those who contemplate Allah Most High’s lordship over His servants, which encompasses all creation, and suppose that Allah’s religion consists in conformity to the divine decree—whether this involves worshipping Allah alone, without partner, or worshipping idols and taking partners and intercessors besides Him; and whether it involves believing in His Books and Messengers or turning away from them and disbelieving in them.

These people equate those who believe and do righteous deeds with those who spread corruption on earth, and the God-fearing with the wicked. They treat Muslims like criminals, and place faith, piety, and righteous deeds on the same footing as disbelief, wickedness, and disobedience. They equate the people of Paradise with the people of Hell, and Allah’s close servants with His enemies.

Sometimes they regard this as a matter of (contentment with the divine decree), and sometimes they call it “monotheism and reality,” on the grounds that it is the affirmation of Allah’s sole lordship, which the polytheists acknowledge, and that it is “cosmic reality.”