—is actually a proof against them, not for them. The same applies to what they attribute to the Messiah, peace be upon him, regarding the doctrine of the Trinity; that text too is evidence against them, not in their favor. This is our conclusion with nearly everything the people of innovation and misguidance cite from the words of the prophets: once those words are examined with proper care, they will always be found to refute them, not to support them, for the speech of the prophets, peace be upon them, is guidance and clarification, and they are divinely protected—never do they utter falsehood.

Accordingly, whoever marshals their statements in support of error must, within those very statements, encounter something that shows the prophets intended truth, not falsehood.

Take, for example, his words in this prophecy:

“Out of you shall come forth for Me a ruler.”

This is an explicit declaration that the one who will come forth is a ruler belonging to God; he is not God Himself, but rather a ruler for Him—just like the other rulers God appoints, namely the messengers and prophets who are to be obeyed, such as David, Moses, and others.

For that reason the text continues:

“Who will shepherd My people Israel,”

for had he been God Himself, he would have said that he would shepherd his own people.

As for the words:

“He existed before the world was made,”

this is similar to the saying of the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in the hadith of Maysarah al-Fajr. He was asked, “Messenger of Allah, when did you become a prophet?” He replied, “While Adam was still between soul and body.” In another wording: “When were you written down as a prophet?” He said, “While Adam was still between soul and body.”