to the servant. This is the affirmation of Allah’s oneness, and this is the meaning of the statement, “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” As an explanatory wording states: “Every child is born upon this religion.” Another narration reads: “Upon the religion of Islam.”

In Sahīh Muslim, ‘Iyād ibn Himār reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘I created My servants as pure monotheists, but the devils led them astray, forbade them what I had made lawful for them, and commanded them to associate with Me that for which I had sent down no authority.’”

He thus states that He created them as pure monotheists. This entails knowing the Lord, loving Him, and affirming His oneness. These three are encompassed by pure monotheism, which is the meaning of the statement, “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.”

For this good word, which is “like a good tree whose root is firmly fixed and whose branches reach into heaven,” affirms knowing Him and acknowledging Him. It also affirms loving Him, for a deity is an object of worship who deserves to be worshipped, and this is the highest degree of love. It further affirms that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. Thus it encompasses knowledge, love, and the affirmation of His oneness.

Every child is born upon the innate disposition: the pure monotheism upon which He created them. But the child’s parents corrupt this, making him a Jew, a Christian, a Magian, or one who associates partners with Allah.