one instance, where the repetition is in wording but not in meaning. Rather, ‘I do not worship what you worship’ refers to the present; ‘Nor do you worship what I worship’ refers to the present; ‘Nor am I a worshipper of what you have worshipped’ refers to the future; and ‘Nor do you worship what I worship’ refers to the future.”

He said: “Thus, both the wording and the meaning differ between His words ‘I do not worship’ and the subsequent ‘Nor am I.’ But ‘Nor do you worship what I worship’ is repeated in wording, not in meaning.”

He said: “It has also been said that the first occurrence means, ‘Nor do you worship what I have worshipped,’ while the second means, ‘Nor do you worship what I worship.’ The wording ‘I have worshipped’ was avoided to indicate that what he worshipped in the past is what he will worship in the future. One tense may stand in place of the other, and this occurs most often in statements made by Allah Most High.

“It is also possible that mā together with its verb forms a verbal noun. It has been said that the meaning of these verses, expressed in full, is: ‘Say: O disbelievers, I do not worship the idols that you worship. Nor do you worship the One whom I worship, because you associate partners with Him and take idols alongside Him. If you claim that you worship Him, you are lying, for you worship Him while associating partners with Him. Thus, I do not worship as you have worshipped’—that is, in the manner of your worship. In the second occurrence, therefore, it forms a verbal noun. Likewise, in ‘Nor do you worship what I worship,’ the second occurrence also forms a verbal noun, meaning: ‘Nor do you worship in the manner of my worship, which is worshipping Allah alone.’”