—and the Sabians—whoever among them stands upon these fundamentals—namely, faith in Allah and the Last Day, together with righteous action—is the one who will be happy in the Hereafter; his reward awaits him with his Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.

By contrast, anyone from among them who altered the Scripture or denied any revealed Book is counted among the unbelievers. Thus, whoever followed the law of the Torah before the mission of the Messiah, without having tampered with it, is among the blessed; and likewise, whoever followed the law of the Gospel before the mission of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—without altering it, is among the blessed.

But whoever corrupted the law of the Torah or rejected the Messiah is an unbeliever, like the Jews after the mission of the Messiah, upon him be peace. Similarly, whoever corrupted the law of the Gospel or denied Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is an unbeliever, like the Christians after the mission of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Accordingly, the early Jews and Christians who adhered to the religion before it was abrogated or altered attained felicity, whereas those Jews and Christians who cling to a corrupted, abrogated law, abandon obedience to the Books and to the Messenger who was sent to them and to others, and turn away from the revealed, definitive law, are unbelievers.