Section: Establishing that the People of the Book possess evidence confirming the truthfulness of Muḥammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

They say—and He, Exalted is He, also says:

“If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you; the truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among those who doubt.” [al-Fātiḥah: 94–28981]

It may therefore be said to them: It is indisputably known that the people meant here are not the Christians alone, as has already been shown. Both the Jews and the Christians were reading the Scripture long before us, and the word “Book” here is a generic noun, just as it is in analogous passages such as His statement:

“Lest you say, ‘The Book was sent down only to two communities before us.’” [al-Anʿām: 156]

and His statement:

“The food of those who were given the Book…” [al-Māʾidah: 5]

and His statement:

“O People of the Book,” [Āl ʿImrān: 64] which appears in several places;

and His statement:

“Those who disbelieved from among the People of the Book and the idolaters…” [al-Bayyinah: 1]

and His words, Exalted is He:

“Allah bears witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, and so do the angels and those endowed with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Truly, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam. The People of the Book differed only after knowledge had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Whoever disbelieves in the signs of Allah—surely Allah is swift in reckoning. So if they dispute with you, say, ‘I have submitted my whole self to Allah, and so have those who follow me.’ And say to those who were given the Book and to the unlettered, ‘Have you submitted?’ If they submit, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey—and Allah is All-Seeing of His servants.” [Āl ʿImrān: 18–20]