—may Allah be pleased with him—concerning the Most High’s words,

“And We raised high your renown”:

“I am not mentioned without you being mentioned alongside Me.” This is exemplified in the testimony of faith recited in prayer, sermons, and the call to prayer: “I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” Thus, a person’s Islam is not valid without mentioning him and testifying to his messengership. Likewise, neither the call to prayer, the prayer itself, nor the sermon is valid without mentioning him and testifying to his messengership.

Allah, glorified and exalted be He, has warned those who oppose him of punishment and disbelief. The Most High says:

“Do not treat the Messenger’s call among you like your calls to one another. Allah certainly knows those of you who slip away, taking cover behind others. So let those who oppose his command beware lest a trial befall them or a painful punishment afflict them.”

Imam Ahmad—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—said: “What trial is this? It is none other than disbelief.”

Likewise, Allah, glorified be He, has inflicted humiliation and abasement upon those who oppose his command, as related in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, in the hadith of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said:

“I have been sent shortly before the Hour so that Allah alone may be worshipped, without partner. My provision has been placed beneath the shade of my spear, and humiliation and abasement have been laid upon those who oppose my command. Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”