Chapter: The Superiority of the Community of Muhammad in Faith, and How Their Deeds Testify to His Prophethood
One way in which the excellence of his community over all other nations becomes plain—something that necessarily confirms him to be a truthful Messenger, as noted earlier, and that stands as a sign and proof of his Prophethood (for whatever entails something serves as evidence for its necessary consequence)—is the following:
Humankind may be divided into two categories:
- Those who possess a scripture revealed from Allah, such as the Jews and the Christians;
- Those who possess no scripture, such as the Indians, the Greeks, the Turks, and the Arabs before the sending of Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him.
Yet there is no nation without some measure of knowledge and practice suited to its circumstances—matters through which the interests of its worldly life are maintained. This belongs to the universal guidance Allah has granted every human being—indeed, every living creature—just as He guides animals to secure what benefits them through eating and drinking and to ward off what harms them by seeking covering and shelter. He has placed within them love for what benefits and aversion to what harms.
The Exalted said:
“Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High, who created and proportioned, who decreed and then guided.” (Qur’an 87:1-3)