They have devised within it a feast which they call “Shaʿnīn” (commonly known as Palm Sunday). Some narrate that this is its name, while others say that Shaʿnīn is the first Sunday of their fast. On that day they parade with olive branches and the like, claiming that this imitates what happened to Christ—peace be upon him—when he entered Jerusalem riding a she-ass and her colt. He then enjoined what is right and forbade what is wrong, but the rabble rose up against him. The Jews, it is said, had stationed men with staffs to strike him; yet those staffs sprouted leaves and the people prostrated themselves before Christ.

Thus the Feast of Shaʿnīn commemorates that event. It is the very celebration referred to in the Pact of ʿUmar and in the works of jurisprudence under the stipulation: “that they must not manifest it in the lands of Islam.”

They call this feast—and any procession they conduct into the open countryside—Bāʿūthā. The term Bāʿūthā is a generic name for any public display of their religion, just as the Festivals of Fast-Breaking and Sacrifice are for us.

As for the miracles they attribute to Christ—upon him be Allah’s blessings and peace—they fall within the realm of possibility; therefore we neither deny them, because they are possible, nor affirm them, because of their ignorance and impiety. What we do repudiate is agreeing with them in celebrating these festivals, for that would revive a religion they have innovated or one that Allah has abrogated.

Next comes the Thursday they call “the Great Thursday.” They allege that on a day like it the Heavenly Table mentioned in the Qur’an descended;