of Christians are unfamiliar with Hebrew and therefore cannot read, in Hebrew, either the Torah, the Gospel, or anything else. Instead, they converse in other languages—Latin, Syriac, and the like—although a small number of them do speak Hebrew. This is unlike the Jews, among whom Hebrew is widespread.

Accordingly, whenever someone from the People of the Book argues on the basis of a prophetic statement transmitted in Latin, Syriac, or Arabic, he must, besides verifying the chain of transmission, establish the accuracy of the translation itself. They often waver over their translations, dispute their reliability, and differ about their meaning.

These, then, are three indispensable premises that they must satisfy for every proof they advance from the words of the prophets—even if they were not claiming that it contradicts what Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—has reported. How much more so when they allege that it clashes with what Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—brought! For if it were established that a prophet had definitively stated something, it would be categorically impossible for Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to assert its opposite. For in what has been transmitted from Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—