Shaykh al-Islām Abū al-‘Abbās Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah sanctify his soul and illuminate his grave—said:

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Concerning the words of Allah Most High:

“Allah bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him—as do the angels and those endowed with knowledge—while He upholds justice. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

“Indeed, the religion with Allah is Islam.”

The Quranic commentators have explained the expression “bears witness” in various ways. One group, including Mujāhid, al-Farrā’ and Abū ‘Ubaydah, said: “It means He has judged and decreed.” Another group, including Tha‘lab and al-Zajjāj, said: “It means He has made clear.” Another group said: “It means He has made known.”

Likewise, some said that Allah’s testimony means His declaring and making known, whereas the testimony of the angels and the believers means their acknowledgment. It is reported from Ibn ‘Abbās that Allah Himself bore witness concerning Himself before He created creation, when He existed and there was neither heaven nor earth, neither land nor sea. He said:

“Allah bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him.”

All these explanations, and others to the same effect, are correct. This is because testimony