Section: Refutation of the Christians in their claim that Muḥammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was not foretold.

It should be recognized that many Christians ground their acceptance of prophethood chiefly on the glad tidings given by one prophet concerning the prophet who is to follow him. Accordingly, they say: “The Messiah—peace be upon him—was heralded by the prophets who preceded him, whereas Muḥammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was not foretold by any prophet.” The answer to this allegation is two-fold.

First, the announcement of Muḥammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in the earlier scriptures is actually stronger than the announcement of the Messiah. Moreover, just as the Jews reinterpret the prophecies of the Messiah so that they do not apply to Jesus son of Mary but to another figure whose coming they still await—in reality they are awaiting al-Masīḥ al-Dajjāl (the Antichrist), for he is the one whom the Jews will follow; with him will emerge 70,000 wearers of mantles from among the Jews of Isfahan, and the Muslims will kill them together with him until even the trees will say—