the abrogated material in question, when set beside what of the Scripture has not been abrogated, is comparable to the handful of Quranic verses and prophetic hadiths that were later superseded; it amounts to very little in relation to what has remained in force. Likewise, if one compares the bulk of what Moses, David, Jesus and the other prophets commanded with what Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—ordered, one will find them largely in agreement, with only a small portion having been annulled.

The second category concerns matters of report. Some People of the Book have claimed that Muhammad contradicted certain statements delivered by the prophets before him. This is false, for the prophets’ reports can never conflict: each and every one of them is truthful and affirmed. Whoever knows that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, that Moses is the Messenger of Allah, and that the Messiah is the Messenger of Allah, knows that their reports do not contradict one another. It is merely that one prophet may relate something another did not mention, so the report of one contains details in addition to the report of another without negating it.

As for what the People of the Book cite as opposing the report of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—almost all of it results from their having distorted its meaning and interpretation, while only a very small part involves alteration of the wording itself. Jews and Christians, together with Muslims, agree that the earlier Scriptures have undergone some form of corruption—whether deliberate or accidental—in their translation, commentary, explanation and interpretation. What people still dispute is whether some of their actual wording has been altered. And whenever someone alleges that Muhammad