O children of Israel! remember my favour wherewith I have favoured you, and that high above all mankind have I raised you:

And dread the day when not in aught shall soul satisfy for soul, nor shall any ransom be taken from it, nor shall any intercession avail, and they shall not be helped.

When his Lord made trial of Abraham by commands which he fulfilled, He said, “I am about to make thee an Imâm to mankind:” he said, “Of my offspring also:” “My covenant,” said God, “embraceth not the evil doers.”

And remember when we appointed the Holy House⁵⁰ as man’s resort and safe retreat, and said, “Take ye the station of Abraham for a place of prayer:” And we commanded Abraham and Ismael, “Purify my house for those who shall go in procession round it, and those who shall abide there for devotion, and those who shall bow down and prostrate themselves.”

And when Abraham said, “Lord! make this secure land, and supply its people with fruits, such of them as believe in God and in the last day:” He said, “And whoso believeth not, for a little while will I bestow good things on him; then will I drive him to the torment of the Fire!” An ill passage!

And when Abraham, with Ismael, raised the foundations⁵¹ of the House, they said, “O our Lord! accept it from us; for thou art the Hearer, the Knower.

O our Lord! make us also Muslims, and our posterity a Muslim people; and teach us our holy rites, and be turned towards us, for thou art He who turneth, the Merciful.

O our Lord! raise up among them an apostle⁵² who may rehearse thy signs unto them, and teach them ‘the Book,’ and Wisdom, and purify them: for thou art the Mighty, the Wise.”

And who but he that hath debased his soul to folly will mislike the faith of Abraham, when we have chosen him in this world, and in the world to come he shall be of the Just?

When his Lord said to him, “Resign thyself to me,” he said, “I resign myself to the Lord of the Worlds.”

And this to his children did Abraham bequeath, and Jacob also, saying, “O my children! truly God hath chosen a religion for you; so die not unless ye be also Muslims.”

Were ye present when Jacob was at the point of death?⁵³ when he said to his sons, “Whom will ye worship when I am gone?” They said, “We will worship thy God and the God of thy fathers Abraham and Ismael and Isaac, one God, and to Him are we surrendered (Muslims).”

That people have now passed away; they have the reward of their deeds, and ye shall have the meed of yours: but of their doings ye shall not be questioned.

They say, moreover, “Become Jews or Christians that ye may have the true guidance.” SAY: Nay! the religion of Abraham, the sound in faith,⁵⁴ and not one of those who join gods with God!

Say ye: “We believe in God, and that which hath been sent down to us, and that which hath been sent down to Abraham and Ismael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes: and that which hath been given to Moses and to Jesus, and that which was given to the prophets from their Lord. No difference do we make between any of them: and to God are we resigned (Muslims).”

If therefore they believe even as ye believe, then have they true guidance; but if they turn back, then do they cut themselves off from you: and God will suffice to protect thee against them, for He is the Hearer, the Knower.⁵⁵

Islam is the Baptism of God,⁵⁶ and who is better to baptise than God? And Him do we serve.