And similar to it is His Almighty’s saying:

{Say, "O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion."} (Al-Kafirun: 1–6).

And He Almighty said in Surat al-An'am:

{Say, "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you invoke besides God." Say, "I will not follow your desires, for I would then have gone astray, and I would not be of the [rightly] guided."} (Al-An'am: 56).

And He Almighty said in Surat Yunus:

{Say, "O people, if you are in doubt as to my religion—then I do not worship those you worship besides God; but I worship God, who causes your death. And I have been commanded to be of the believers and [commanded], 'Direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth (Hanifa), and never be of those who associate others with God. And do not invoke besides God that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.'"} (Yunus: 104–106).

This indicates that it is not permissible to believe in or profess religion through the forms of these exoteric acts of worship which are exemplified by idols (al-mamthūlah bi-al-aṣnām) and practiced by the people of the exoteric. Rather, what is obligated upon us is the belief in