—to the point that, if a woman was menstruating, they would neither share food with her, nor live in the same quarters with her, nor have marital relations with her. They even refused to wash impurity from a garment; instead, they would cut out the stained piece altogether, and they would also draw blood from the veins, and the like of these were the burdens and shackles that weighed upon them.

By contrast, most Christians see virtually nothing as unlawful or impure except whatever a person naturally finds repugnant. They pray while in a state of major or minor ritual impurity, even while carrying filth, and they consume what is foul—such as blood, carrion, and pork—unless an individual happens to dislike something and voluntarily abstains from it.

Muslims, however, occupy the middle course, just as the Exalted has said about them:

“Thus We have made you a balanced community, so that you may be witnesses over humanity and the Messenger may be a witness over you.” (2:143)

—that is, a just and excellent nation.

He, Most High, also says:

“My mercy encompasses all things; I shall ordain it for those who are mindful of Me, who give the purifying alms, and who believe in Our signs—⦗156⦘ those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins upon them what is right, forbids them what is wrong, makes lawful for them the wholesome things and makes unlawful for them the vile, and removes from them their burdens and the fetters that had been upon them. Those who believe in him, honor him, support him, and follow the light sent down with him—it is they who will prosper.” (7:156-157)