more than one place in the Quran] (1).

Allah Most High says:

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

[Surah al-Zumar: 38]

And Allah Most High says:

“Most of them do not believe in Allah without associating partners with Him.”

[Surah Yūsuf: 106]

We have discussed this at length elsewhere.

These people initially profess love for Allah and attach great importance to loving Him. They commend listening to singing accompanied by tambourines and pipes, regarding it as an act that draws them nearer to Allah, because they claim that it stirs love for Allah within their hearts. Yet when their condition is closely examined, their love is found to resemble that of the polytheists, not that of those who affirm Allah’s oneness. Those who affirm His oneness show their love by following the Messenger and striving in Allah’s cause.

Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.’”

[Surah Āl Imrān: 31]

And Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your kindred, the wealth you have acquired, the commerce whose decline you fear, and the dwellings with which you are pleased are dearer to you than Allah, His Messenger, and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command.’”

[Surah al-Tawbah: 24]

And Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, whoever among you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him—humble toward the believers, mighty against the disbelievers. They strive in Allah’s cause and do not fear the reproach of any critic.”

[Surah al-Mā’idah: 54]

These people do not truly follow the Messenger or strive in Allah’s cause. Rather, many