, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who feeds and is not fed?” And He says:

“Then is it other than Allah I should seek as judge, while it is He who has revealed to you the Book explained in detail?”

If there were nothing other than Him, the polytheists would not have told him to worship anyone other than Allah, or to take anyone other than Allah as a protector or judge. They would therefore not have deserved censure. Since He censured them for this, it establishes that there exists something other than Him that can be worshipped and taken as a protector or judge, and that whoever does so associates partners with Allah. As He, Most High, says:

“So do not invoke another god alongside Allah, lest you be among those who are punished.”

And He says:

“Do not set up another god alongside Allah, lest you sit condemned and forsaken.”

There are other similar verses.

As for the claim that His words,

“You have no part in the decision,”

are themselves an affirmation of authority for the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, like His words,

“And you did not throw when you threw, but it was Allah who threw,”

and,

“Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands,”

this is based on the doctrine of the advocates of unity and union. His words, “You have no part in the decision,” are thus interpreted to mean that your action is Allah’s action, because there is no distinction between the two. This is grave misguidance for several reasons.

The first of the two is that His words, “You have no part in the decision,” were revealed in the context of His words:

“That He might cut off a portion of those who disbelieve or subdue them so that they turn back disappointed.”

“You have no part in the decision—whether He turns to them in mercy or punishes them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.”