or the Quran and other revealed scriptures that constitute Allah’s speech—concerning which He says, “To Him ascends good words” (Fāṭir 10). In their view, however, he is Allah Himself: the Creator, the Provider, Lord of all worlds, and it is impossible for the Lord of all worlds to be raised up to the Lord of all worlds.

Fifth Point: His statement, “I was a witness over them so long as I remained among them, but when You took me, You were the One watching over them” (al-Māʾidah 117), proves that after his departure none but Allah, and not the Messiah, keeps watch over them. The phrase “You were the One” confines guardianship to Allah alone, just as in His words, “If this is truly the truth…” (al-Anfāl 32) and similar expressions. Thus it is clear that once the Messiah was taken, he no longer oversees his followers; rather, Allah alone is the Watcher who observes them, enumerates their deeds, and recompenses them for them. The Messiah is not their guardian—he neither witnesses their actions, nor tallies them, nor rewards or punishes them on their account.