—it becomes clear that they are more devout than any other people; and if their courage, their striving in Allah’s path, and their endurance of hardships for His sake are compared with those of others, it is evident that their struggle is greater and their hearts braver. Likewise, if their generosity, their readiness to give, and the magnanimity of their souls are weighed against those of other nations, it will be seen that they are the most generous and the most noble. They attained all these virtues through him; from him they learned them, and he is the one who commanded them to practise them. Before his coming they had not been followers of a scripture whose legislation he merely came to complete, as the Messiah came to perfect the Law of the Torah.

Thus the virtues and learning of Christ’s followers were partly from the Torah, partly from the Psalms, partly from the books of the prophets, partly from Christ himself, and partly from those who came after him, such as the disciples. They even resorted to the words of philosophers and others; and once they had altered Christ’s religion they introduced into it elements taken from the unbelievers—elements that are in direct opposition to the faith of Christ.

As for the nation of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, they had never before recited any book at all; indeed, most of them had not believed in Moses, Jesus, or David, nor in the Torah, the Gospel, or the Psalms, except through him. It was he who commanded them to believe in all the prophets and to acknowledge every scripture revealed by Allah, and he forbade them to make distinctions between any of the messengers.

Therefore the Exalted said in the Book that he brought:

“Say, ‘We believe in Allah, in what has been sent down to us, in what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and in what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.’” [Al-Baqarah: 136]

(136)

“If they believe as you believe, they have found guidance; but if they turn away, they are only mired in dissension. Allah will suffice you against them, for He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.” [Al-Baqarah: 137]