All this elaborates upon the two testimonies that constitute the foundation of religion: the testimony that none is worthy of worship except Allah, and the testimony that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. A deity is one who deserves to be worshipped by His servants, which includes loving and fearing Him. Whatever pertains to divinity is therefore Allah’s exclusive right, while whatever pertains to messengership is the Messenger’s right.
Since the foundation of religion is the two testimonies, this community serves as the witnesses and is characterized by bearing witness. Priests practise worship without bearing witness; hence they said:
“Our Lord, we believe in what You have revealed and follow the Messenger, so count us among the witnesses.”
For this reason, discerning scholars hold that the two testimonies are the first religious obligations. This is the position of the true adherents of Ahl al-Sunnah, and was stated by Mansūr al-Sam‘ānī, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir, and others.
And he made it the root of polytheism. They thereby altered the religion of monotheism, which is the foundation of religion, just as the philosophers of old did when they instituted religious practices that Allah had not authorized.
Among the causes of this is departing from the particular revealed law with which Allah sent Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in favour of common features involving resemblance to the Sabians, Christians, or Jews. This is a flawed analogy resembling that of those who said:
“Trade is just like usury.”
They wish to treat listening as a single category, and religion as a single category, without distinguishing what is prescribed from what is innovated, or what is commanded from what is forbidden. Religious listening prescribed by the revealed law consists in listening to Allah’s Book, beautifying one’s voice with it, and embellishing its recitation. As the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“Beautify the Quran with your voices.”
Abū Mūsā said, “Had I known that you were listening, I would have made my recitation especially beautiful for you.”
And the forms, wives, and slave concubines that Allah Most High has permitted.