Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac—the one God—and to Him we submit.’”

“That was a community that has passed away. Theirs is what they earned, and yours is what you earn; you will not be questioned about what they used to do.”

He has thus made clear that none turns away from the faith of Abraham except someone foolish, and that Abraham was commanded to submit, whereupon he said:

“I have submitted to the Lord of all worlds.”

This was Abraham’s counsel to his sons, and Israel’s counsel to his sons. Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ʿImrān above all people.

Then He said:

“They say, ‘Become Jews or Christians, and you will be guided.’ Say, ‘Rather, we follow the faith of Abraham, who inclined to the truth and was not one of those who associated others with Allah.’”

He thus commanded adherence to the faith of Abraham and forbade embracing Judaism or Christianity. He commanded comprehensive faith, in accordance with what He revealed to the prophets and what they were given; submission to Him; that we be imbued with Allah’s colouring; and that we worship Him. He also refuted those who claimed that Abraham and his sons, and Israel and his sons, were Jews or Christians. Before this, He had said:

“Never will the Jews or the Christians be pleased with you until you follow their religion. Say, ‘Allah’s guidance is the true guidance.’ If you were to follow their desires…”

—to the end of the verse. The meaning is: the Jews will never be pleased with you until you follow their religion, nor will the Christians until you follow their religion. This may be cited as evidence that each community has a religion of its own, on the basis of His words, Most High: