The common word (the shared call to monotheism)

Sha'rawi reads the verse that invites the People of the Book to what they hold in common with the Muslims (Al Imran 64) as a call to worship God alone, without associating anything with him and without some people taking others as lords ¹.

Sha'rawi argues that on reflection shirk makes no sense. Creation did not share in creating the universe, since the other gods came after it had been created. Whoever is able to run the universe is also the one who sends its law and keeps it in place. If a partner were said to have special powers, that would mean a lack of power in the other ¹.

Sha'rawi reads the phrase about not taking one another as lords as a ban on people taking from one another a priesthood that declares what is lawful and what is forbidden. Lawfulness and prohibition come from God alone, and no creature may decide them on his own authority ².

If the invitation is refused, the believers are to testify that they are Muslims, meaning submitted to God's law. Sha'rawi says this testimony affirms that Islam came with a straight matter that has no twist in it ²³.

This is Sha'rawi's reading alone, taken from a scanned copy whose edition is not yet verified, and it is presented under his name. No other reading of the verse has been added here. See also Islam as the shared religion of the prophets and People of the Book.