(13) His words, “Al-hanifiyya is the religion of Abraham,” mean that what one must recognize and understand is that al-hanifiyya is the creed of Abraham. Linguistically, hanf denotes inclination. Hence al-hanifiyya is the religion that inclines away from shirk (polytheism) toward tawhid (pure monotheism). Abraham—peace be upon him—was a hanif and a Muslim: hanif, that is, one who completely turned away from shirk toward tawhid and exclusive devotion to Allah. The Exalted says, “Indeed, Abraham was a community in himself, devoutly obedient to Allah, a hanif, and he was not of the polytheists” (Q 16:120). Thus “hanif” is one of Abraham’s attributes, signifying his total rejection of shirk and his wholehearted orientation to tawhid and sincerity for Allah. The Almighty also says, “Then We revealed to you: Follow the religion of Abraham, a hanif” (Q 16:123).