The effects of these two sins have become evident among those who have gone astray among scholars, devout worshippers, rulers and ordinary people: they declare unlawful what Allah Most High has made lawful and practise forms of associating partners with Him that He has not prescribed. The former is prevalent among those devoted to jurisprudence and religious scrupulousness, while the latter is prevalent among Sufis and faqīrs. It thus becomes clear that the instances of neglecting obligations which Allah Most High has censured and punished are more numerous than the instances of committing forbidden acts which He has censured and punished.

The eleventh point:

Allah Most High created His creatures to worship Him, as He says:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

This is the foundation of what He commanded them through His messengers, as Noah, Hūd, Sālih, Abraham and Shuʿayb said:

“Worship Allah; you have no deity worthy of worship except Him.”

He also says:

“Who would turn away from the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself?”

Through to His words:

“one God, and to Him we submit.”

He said to Moses:

“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no god except Me, so worship Me.”

And the Messiah said:

“I said nothing to them except what You commanded me: ‘Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’”

Islam is submission to Allah alone, and it is the foundation of worshipping Him alone. This encompasses knowing Him, loving Him and humbling oneself before Him. And this meaning, which