—by swearing between the Black Stone and the Station of Abraham—and, as they say, in the Prophet’s Mosque by swearing beside his grave. Yet none of this has any foundation in the statements of Aḥmad or the other leading Imams. The Sunnah is that an oath in these mosques is to be intensified exactly as it is in all other mosques: in front of the pulpit. An oath is not made more binding by swearing at a spot whose veneration the Muslims have not been commanded to uphold—just as it is not intensified by swearing at shrines or at the reputed sites of prophets and the like. Whoever does that is an innovating deviant, acting in opposition to the Sacred Law.

Some writers have produced treatises on the merits of Jerusalem and other places in Syria, citing in them reports transmitted from the People of the Book and from those who learned from them—reports on which it is impermissible for Muslims to base their religion.

The most reputable source for such Israelite tales is Kaʿb al-Aḥbār, and the Syrians adopted many of them from him. Muʿāwiyah—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “Of all those who relate traditions from the People of the Book, we have seen none better than Kaʿb, though we do sometimes find him telling lies.”

It is authentically established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When the People of the Book relate something to you, neither believe it nor deny it; for they may tell you falsehood and you would be confirming it, or they may tell you truth and you would be rejecting it.”

How astonishing it is that this safeguarded, well-protected law remains with this community