Chapter: Reports affirming that a segment of this ummah will worship idols

Allah the Exalted says: “Have you not seen those who were given a share of the Scripture, yet they believe in al-jibt and al-ṭāghūt?” (4:51)

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Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: After outlining pure monotheism and what nullifies or diminishes it through shirk, the author cites this chapter to demonstrate that such shirk will in fact occur within the Prophet’s community. His aim is to refute the grave-worshippers who commit idolatry yet insist that no polytheism can ever take place among the followers of Muhammad—even while they profess, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

Glossary
• al-awthān (idols): plural of wathan; anything that people approach with any act of worship—graves, shrines, and the like.
• a-lam tara: “Have you not seen?”
• alladhīna ūtū: “those who were given,” i.e., the Jews and Christians.
• naṣīban: “a share, a portion.”
• yuʾminūna: “they believe, they affirm.”
• al-jibt: a term used for an idol, a soothsayer, or a sorcerer.
• al-ṭāghūt: from tughyān (to transgress). Anyone who exceeds the proper bounds is a ṭāghūt; here it denotes Satan.