Surah 26. Ash-Shuara, Ayah 137

Lit., "the innate habit of the earlier people (al-awwalin)". The noun khuluq denotes one’s "nature" in the sense of "innate disposition" (tabi'ah)or "moral character" (Taj al-'Arus); hence the use of this term to describe "that to which one clings", i.e., one’s "innate habit" or "custom", and, in a specific sense, one’s religion (ibid.).

They said, as many of our modern enemies of religion say, "you are only reviving an ancient superstition, a dope of the crowd; there is no such thing as a Hereafter, or the sort of punishments you denounce!"