different from that of his fellows; thus the word of Allah applies perfectly to them: “But they denied the truth when it came to them, so they are in utter confusion” (Qaf 5), and likewise His saying: “When their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they exulted in the knowledge they possessed, but what they had been mocking engulfed them” (Ghafir 83).

The point, then, is that this majestic foundation is confirmed by every category and variety of evidence. Sound revelation and the comprehensive, well-ordered divine decree both attest to it. No one has cast doubt upon it except these deviant people, whose very objections nullify their credibility and lay bare the unsoundness of their intellects.

Now turn to the second foundation: establishing prophethood. Allah has furnished for the truthfulness of His messengers signs that would satisfy any reasonable person—above all, Muhammad (1), peace and blessings be upon him. The proofs of his prophethood, the evidences of his messengership, and the tokens of his veracity are many and varied:
• his life conduct and noble character;
• the upright religion he brought;
• his urging of every virtuous trait, righteous action, benefit, kindness, and justice;
• his prohibition of everything contrary to that;
• the revelation he conveyed—the Book and the Sunnah—each and every part, in general and in detail, is proof of his prophethood and truthfulness;
• together with the great victory with which Allah honored him and the manifestation of his religion over all other religions.