need a revealed law to perfect their innate dispositions. Allah therefore began humanity with the prophethood of Adam, as He, the Exalted, said:

“He taught Adam all the names.”

And so it continued thereafter. Whoever departs from the teachings of the prophets falls into polytheism and other errors. This applies to every disbeliever who is not of the People of the Book: he is a polytheist, and his polytheism results from his lack of faith in the messengers, concerning whom Allah said:

“We certainly sent a messenger to every nation, saying, ‘Worship Allah and shun false gods.’”

Polytheism was not humanity’s original state. Rather, Adam and those of his descendants who followed his religion worshipped Allah alone because they followed prophethood. He, the Exalted, said:

“People were but one community, then they differed.”

Ibn ‘Abbās said: “Between Adam and Noah were ten generations, all following Islam.”

Thus, they fell into polytheism by abandoning adherence to the law of the prophets; it was not by falling into polytheism that they departed from the law of Islam. For Adam commanded them to do what Allah had commanded him, when He said to him:

“If guidance comes to you from Me, those who follow My guidance will have no fear, nor will they grieve.”

“But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs are the inhabitants of the Fire; they will remain there forever.”

And He said in the other passage:

“Whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer.”

“But whoever turns away from My remembrance will have a life of hardship, and We will raise him blind on the Day of Resurrection.”

“He will say, ‘My Lord, why have You raised me blind when I used to see?’”

“He will say, ‘Just as Our signs came to you and you forgot them, so today you will be forgotten.’”