Third verse: “Your Lord has said, ‘Call Me, and I will hear you!

Third verse: “Your Lord has said, ‘Call Me, and I will hear you!’ Indeed, those who are disdainful of My worship will enter Hell in utter humility.” [^13] Fourth verse: “Say, ‘I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke besides Allah, since there have come to me manifest proofs from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all the worlds’.” [^14] Sincere worship Worship which is acceptable to Allah is that which is purely for Him and is not contaminated by any kind of polytheism.

Polytheists also used to worship Allah, but also used to worship idols besides Him, and it is for this very reason that their worship was not accepted. Consider the following verses, which denote that worship ought to be purely for Allah: “Set your heart [on Him] at every occasion of prayer, and invoke Him, putting your exclusive faith in Him.” [^15] “You [alone] do we worship.” [^16] The meaning of…