Arguments from Hadith

INTERPRETATION OF THE ISLAMIC MISSION indicates that in this context millah refers to a group rather than to a religion. This is because the subject of a statement is people themselves, not their religion. In reality, the reference here is to Allah’s specific decree, which required that the final Messenger confront his earliest audience in battle and compel them to abandon their false beliefs. As a result, many who were disbelievers were guided to the right path. Here, I will quote the words of ‘Ayni and Ibn Hajar, which further clarify this interpretation: The phrase yuqimu bihi means that Allah, through His Messenger, will negate polytheism and affirm monotheism. The term al-millah al-‘iwaja’ refers to the Arab nation, which is described as “crooked” because they altered the religion of their forefather, Prophet Abraham, and adopted idol worship. The establishment of this nation entails bringing them from disbelief to faith (‘Umdat al-Qari, vol. 11, p. 243). Similarly, al-millah al-‘iwaja’ is explained as “the Arab nation,” described as “crooked” due to their worship of idols, and its “establishment” is understood as leading its people from disbelief to faith (Fath al-Bari, Vol. 4, p. 343). It is clear from this explanation that the argument based on this hadith is not correct: 1. Firstly, the hadith mentions the act of people saying