Chapter: Whoever obeys scholars or rulers in forbidding what Allah has permitted, or permitting what Allah has forbidden, has taken them as lords in place of Him.

Ibn ʿAbbās said, “It is only a matter of time before stones from the sky rain down upon you! I say to you: ‘The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said,’ and you reply: ‘Abū Bakr and ʿUmar said!’”

Reason for including this chapter in the Book of Tawḥīd: Since obedience is an act of worship, the author—may Allah have mercy on him—reminds us through this chapter that such obedience must be reserved exclusively for the Creator. No created being may be obeyed if that obedience entails disobedience to Allah.

“Lords”: meaning partners with Allah in legislation.

“Ibn ʿAbbās …” etc.: He said this to an opponent who debated with him about the tamattuʿ form of pilgrimage; Ibn ʿAbbās was commanding it because the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had commanded it, whereas his interlocutor argued on the basis of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar’s prohibition. Ibn ʿAbbās countered with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger.

“Yūshik”: i.e., “it is near, imminent, and coming swiftly.”

Overall meaning of the report: Ibn ʿAbbās—may Allah be pleased with him—anticipated that Allah would swiftly send down a dreadful punishment from the sky upon anyone who gives precedence to the words of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with them—over the words of the Messenger of Allah, because faith in the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—