horsemanship distinguishes the brave from the cowardly. Just as one must distinguish a true prophet from a lying claimant to prophethood—distinguishing Muhammad, the truthful and trustworthy Messenger of the Lord of all worlds, Moses, the Messiah, and others from Musaylima the Liar, al-Aswad al-Ansī, Tulayha al-Asadī, al-Hārith al-Dimashqī, Bābāh al-Rūmī, and other liars—so too must one distinguish Allah’s pious allies from Satan’s misguided allies.
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“Reality”—the reality of religion, the religion of the Lord of all worlds—is what the prophets and messengers agreed upon, even though each had a law and a way. Shirʿa means sharīʿa (religious law). Allah Most High says:
“To each of you We have prescribed a law and a way.”
The Most High also says:
“Then We set you upon a law in matters of religion, so follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who do not know. They can be of no help to you against Allah. Indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another, while Allah is the ally of the righteous.”
Minhāj means a path. The Most High says:
“If they had remained steadfast on the path, We would have given them abundant water to drink, to test them thereby. And whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will subject him to an arduous punishment.”