possession of the Jews, for the Messiah instructed his followers to adhere to the Torah—apart from the few rulings he himself had revoked.

As for Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—he was sent with a Book that stands on its own and with an independent, complete, and perfect law. Because of that, his community has no need for an earlier dispensation that must be learned from anyone else, nor for a later legislation to finish what he brought.

For this reason the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said in the sound hadith: “Among the nations before you there were muhaddathūn (people granted inner inspiration); and if there is anyone of that kind in my community, it is ʿUmar.”

Thus he stated categorically that the communities before him did indeed contain such inspired individuals, yet he left the matter conditional regarding his own community—even though the condition was in fact fulfilled. For if his nation needs no prophet after him, it is all the more obvious that, alongside him, it has no need for another inspired muhaddath to guide it.