those that establish the prophethood of others, then affirming his prophethood would be obligatory—just as affirming theirs is obligatory—and rejecting him would be like rejecting Abraham, Moses, and the rest of the messengers. How much more compelling, then, when his proofs are superior on several counts.

Accordingly, all the prophets are truthful, mutually confirming, and protected from error in what they convey from God. It is inconceivable that any falsehood—whether deliberate or accidental—become firmly established within their reports about Him. Thus none of them can relate anything that contradicts what another has related, nor can they differ concerning the unifying core of religion. As the Exalted One says:

“He has prescribed for you, in matters of faith, what He enjoined upon Noah, what We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: ‘Establish the religion and do not be divided therein.’” (Ash-Shūrā 42:13)

He, Most High, also says:

“O messengers, eat of what is wholesome and act righteously; truly I am All-Aware of what you do. And verily this community of yours is one community, and I am your Lord, so be mindful of Me. Yet they fragmented their affair among themselves into factions, each group rejoicing in what it had.” (Al-Muʾminūn 23:51-53)

Abrogation, then, occurs only in certain practical rulings, just as it can occur within the law of a single messenger. Hence, whatever is transmitted from the earlier prophets that contradicts what is known from the report of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—is false: either the wording itself is fabricated and that prophet never said it, or he did utter the words and someone erred