Section: Refutation of Their Claim that the Quran Bears Witness to Their Being “Allah’s Helpers”
They go on to argue that the Quran itself testifies that they are Allah’s helpers, citing His words—just as Jesus son of Mary said: “Who are my helpers unto Allah?”—whereupon
“The disciples said, ‘We are Allah’s helpers.’ So a faction of the Children of Israel believed and a faction disbelieved; then We supported those who believed against their enemy, and they came to prevail.” (Quran 61:14)
We reply: This is true—the disciples were believers, Muslims, and indeed helpers of Allah. Yet nothing in the verse says that they were Allah’s messengers, nor that everything you now follow in religion was taken from them, nor that any individual disciple was protected from error. Rather, Allah has commanded the believers of Muhammad’s community—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to be helpers of Allah, just as the Messiah requested when he said, “Who are my helpers unto Allah?” (Quran 61:14).
Moreover, Allah describes the believing Companions of the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—who lived in the illuminated city of Medina as “Allah’s helpers” when He, Most High, says: