protecting his allies and repelling his enemies. They must therefore command whatever safeguards their allies and repels their enemies, as in the realm of Genghis Khan, king of the Turks, and other such kings. They may have a sound, monotheistic religion, a religion of unbelief, or no religion at all. They may also make their religion obligatory or merely recommend it.
The basis of this division is that all rational human beings must have things they are commanded to do and things they are forbidden to do, for their welfare cannot be secured otherwise. They cannot live in this world—nor could even one of them live alone—without doing things that bring them benefit and keeping away things that cause them harm. Indeed, all other animals must also possess the two faculties of seeking and avoiding, which arise from desire and aversion, love and hatred. Thus, what is sought is what is commanded, and what is feared is what is forbidden.
These matters are either agreed upon among rational people—disregarding the exceptional few whom the majority consider to have departed from reason—or they are not. Those that are not are either agreed upon among the prophets and messengers or are particular to the followers of Islamic law.