His creation as servants in several passages. Thus, the Most High says concerning the last of His messengers, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Then He revealed to His servant what He revealed.”

Likewise, He says concerning Jesus, peace be upon him:

“He was only a servant upon whom We bestowed Our favour.”

And the Most High says:

“The Messiah would never disdain to be a servant of Allah, nor would the angels who are near to Him”—and the rest of the verse.

Christians are disbelievers for making such a claim about Jesus alone. What, then, of someone who holds this belief, sometimes concerning himself and sometimes concerning beautiful forms—women and beardless youths? They say that this belief contains a hidden secret and a true inner meaning, and that it belongs to those truths known only to the very elite of creation.

Do these statements contain a hidden secret such that anyone who believes in Allah, the Last Day, His Books and His messengers must strive to hold fast to them and attain their underlying truths, as these people claim? Or is their inner meaning just like their outward meaning? Is this belief the very essence of faith in Allah, His Messenger and what he brought, or is it unbelief itself?

Must a Muslim follow, in this matter, the words of the Muslim scholars, the heirs of the prophets and messengers, or adhere to the words of these people who are astray and lead others astray? If he abandons what the leading scholars of the Muslims have unanimously agreed upon and agrees with these people, what will Allah’s judgment concerning him be on the Day of Recompense?

Give us a ruling—may you be rewarded, and may Allah, the Most Generous, reward you.