to remain at all, for in that case they would be spreading corruption in the land. Among the rulings concerning the ahl al-dhimmah (non-Muslim subjects under Muslim protection) are those mentioned by the author.

His statement: “If a Christian becomes a Jew, or vice versa.” That is, if a Christian becomes Jewish; and vice versa, if a Jew becomes Christian. Which of the two is more complete: for a Christian to become Jewish, or for a Jew to become Christian?

We say: both are false, because when a Jew converts to Christianity, he has moved to an abrogated religion which Allah does not accept. It is true that the Christians came after the Jews and are closer to the truth than the Jews, even though they are all upon falsehood. The Christians believe in Jesus, whereas the Jews do not believe in him; for this reason, they are closer to the truth than the Jews. Yet as regards disbelief, they are in fact equal.

Before the Prophet’s mission, the Christians were astray: they worshipped Allah while in misguidance and sought the truth, but were blind to it—may Allah protect us. The Jews, however, were those upon whom wrath had fallen, because they knew the truth but did not act upon it. But after the Messenger’s mission, they were all under wrath—the Jews and the Christians alike—because the Jews knowingly abandoned the truth, and the Christians likewise knowingly abandoned the truth. There is therefore no difference between them. All of them follow a religion that Allah does not accept: neither that of the Jews nor that of the Christians.

Yet there is no doubt that the Jews’ dispositions, harshness, deceit, treachery, and scheming are more severe and greater than those of the Christians. Nevertheless, after the wars that took place between the Christians and the Muslims, the Christians came to harbor toward the Muslims the same hostility that the Jews harbor toward them. So we ask Allah Most High to repel them all from us.