namely, that He does not love the one who commits it. And what good can anyone attain whom Allah does not love?

His words, Exalted is He,

“Indeed, He does not love the transgressors,”

coming immediately after His words,

“Call upon your Lord humbly and in private,”

show that whoever does not call upon Him humbly and in private is among the transgressors whom He does not love. The verse thus divides people into two groups: those who call upon Allah humbly and in private, and those who transgress by failing to do so.

Regarding His words, Exalted is He,

“And do not spread corruption on earth after it has been set right,”

most Quran commentators said: “Do not spread corruption there through sins.” Anyone who calls people to anything other than obedience to Allah, after Allah has set the earth right by sending the messengers, explaining His revealed law, and calling people to obey Him, is spreading corruption. Worshipping others besides Allah, calling people to others besides Him, and associating partners with Him constitute the gravest corruption on earth. Indeed, corruption on earth consists, in reality, of associating partners with Allah and disobeying His commands.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:

“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people’s hands have earned.”

ʿAtiyyah said concerning the verse: “Do not disobey Allah on earth, lest Allah withhold the rain and destroy the crops because of your sins.”

Several of the early generations said: “When rain fails, the animals curse the disobedient among the children of Adam, saying: ‘O Allah, curse them! It is because of them that the earth has become barren and the rain has failed.’”

In short, associating partners with Allah, calling people to others besides Allah, and setting up an object of worship other than Him, or someone to be obeyed and followed other than the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, constitute the gravest corruption