that he was a servant like yourselves, a creature under the same Lord, dispatched by his Lord and yours to proclaim among you what He had commanded. His disciples and pupils repeated the very same description and conveyed it to anyone who asked about him.

In their own words he was “a man who came from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, a prophet endowed with power and distinction.” Yet you took those statements and interpreted them as though he were speaking only from the standpoint of his nāsūt (human nature). Had matters been as you claim, he would have stated openly that he was God—just as plainly as he stated that he was a servant. But he never said so, never asserted it, never summoned people to it. None of the scriptures of the earlier prophets attributed it to him, nor did the writings of his disciples, nor has it been reported from them. Gabriel’s words, which he conveyed to Mary, do not require it, nor do the words of John son of Zechariah.

He continued:

“If you argue that your proof of his Lordship is that he revived the dead, cured the blind and the leper, walked upon the water, ascended to the heavens, turned water into wine, and multiplied meagre provisions, then we must henceforth examine everyone who performs any of these deeds and declare him lord and god—otherwise, what difference is there?

“Accordingly, the Book of Kings relates that Elijah brought the widow’s son back to life, and that Elisha…"