those whom Ibn Jarīr described as stupid. Rather, his denial is far graver: he denies that they acknowledged Allah’s existence at all, thereby giving the lie to the Quran and reality. I do not know, then, how he should be described.

7 The writer says on p. 7: “Second: those disbelievers described in Allah Most High’s words:

‘And if you asked them who created the heavens and the earth, they would surely say, “Allah.”’1

and who say:

‘We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah.’2

did not acknowledge Allah’s oneness in lordship, nor did they acknowledge Allah’s existence. There is evidence for this, which I will now present, Allah Most High willing. They only said this when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—argued and debated with them, demonstrating the existence of Allah Most High and refuting the divinity of what they worshipped besides Him…”

I say: This is willful denial on the writer’s part, an unbridled assertion. I have already cited sufficient evidence and scholarly statements to demonstrate the falsity of his claim. Here, however, I will present the scholars’ commentary on the two verses the writer just quoted before imposing a strained interpretation upon them, saying: “They only said this when the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—argued and debated with them…” In other words, they did not acknowledge Allah’s existence, but merely said this for the sake of argument and debate!!

Commenting on Allah Most High’s words:

“And if you asked them who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon, they would surely say, ‘Allah.’ Then how are they deluded?”3

and the verses that follow, Ibn Kathīr says: “Allah Most High affirms that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, for the polytheists who worship others alongside Him acknowledge that He alone created the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, and subjected