The Primordial Religion, the Religion of Human Nature

The intellectual rigidity of ignorance and the motivational stagnation of foolishness compelled those afflicted by ignorance to cultivate in their collective belief the notion that their obsolete faith was the truth, and to call others to it. This call took the form of a condition and consequence, which through its explicit meaning conveyed its positive effect, and through its implicit meaning conveyed the negative effect of its opposite, so that from the combination of this ominous explicit meaning and this inauspicious implicit meaning, exclusivity would be achieved. Then, in a monopolistic and authoritative manner, they would present the same condition and consequence as a directive, saying: “Be Jews or Christians, [then] you will be guided”(440).

The jussive mood of “you will be guided” (tahtadū) is because the word “be” (kūnū) implies an exclusive condition; meaning, the only condition for guidance is becoming Jewish or Christian. Therefore, you (the addressees, whether Christian, Muslim, or others) should become Jewish or Christian.

In the face of such a dust-laden assumption, there is no solution but to clear away the dust. Therefore, what comes in response to these people is not in the form of a proposal to cease hostilities and declare a ceasefire, or to abandon mutual discourse, such as “For you is your religion, and for me is my religion”(441), which was said at a specific juncture and according to historical necessity_—_although even that verse carried an implicit message about the falsehood of idolatry and image worship. Rather, it is of the nature of drawing a line of invalidity over the conditionality of becoming Jewish or Christian, and their lack of connection with guidance, and transforming that ominous command into a blessed, revelation-inspired order, inviting everyone to the religion of the perfect, infallible, and monotheistic human being whose guidance is accepted by all. The characteristic of this call is that the religion of Abraham, the upright (ḥanīf), is both rational and acceptable; from the perspective that it is rational, it is demonstrative, and from the aspect that it is acceptable, it is the best form of argumentation, for Abraham the upright is the leader of the guided ones.

Being upright (ḥanīf) is innate to humans; meaning, human nature is neither indifferent to truth and falsehood nor inclined towards falsehood, but is only inclined towards truth.

The upright religion that Abraham (a.s.) followed is the same innate religion upon which God created humans: “So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the nature of God upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the creation of God. That is the correct religion”(442).

The Exalted God said to the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.): In response to the invitation of the Jews and Christians to Judaism and Christianity, each of whom considers their religion divine and its acceptance as a source of guidance, say: We neither submit to Judaism nor convert to Christianity, but rather we accept and will follow the religion and community of Abraham: “Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth”(443), for Abraham (a.s.) was a monotheist and upright, his community is free from polytheism; it neither inclines to the right of falsehood nor to the left of futility: “The right and the left lead astray, while the middle path is the [correct] way”(444); but you are polytheists and not upright, and your religion is tainted with polytheism.

Fakhr al-Rāzī considers the phrase “Rather, [we follow] the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth” as a persuasive response, saying: The demonstrative answer to the People of the Book will come in the continuation of the verses(445).

It should be noted that the aforementioned response is not persuasive, because the Exalted God first explained the truth of Abraham’s community based on demonstration, and then introduced it as the criterion of growth and reason, and turning away from it as a sign of foolishness. Then He said: Muslims are on the religion and community of Abraham, while Jews and Christians are separate and deviant from it. Therefore, He said to the People of the Book: The foundation of religion is revelation, reason, and demonstration, not desires and wishes. If you have proof, present it: “And they say, ‘None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian.’ That is [merely] their wishful thinking. Say, ‘Produce your proof, if you should be truthful’”(446).