it relates to the sphere of commands and prohibitions. That, however, does not rule out the possibility that alteration occurred in the sphere of narrative reports; it is there that actual verbal substitution took place. As for the legal rulings found in the Torah, scarcely anyone claims that their wording has been changed.

A number of scholars have remarked that the Exalted’s statement in the Gospel,

“Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein,” ⦗al-Maʾida 47⦘

is an address to those who followed the religion of Christ before it was abrogated and altered, not to those who lived after the advent of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

This view plainly accords with the reading of those who recite, “and so that the people of the Gospel may judge …,” pronouncing the lām with a kasrah, as in the recitation of Ḥamzah; for in that reading the lām is the lām of purpose. The Exalted has said:

“And We caused Jesus son of Mary to follow in their footsteps, confirming what came before him of the Torah, and We gave him the Gospel, in which there is guidance and light, confirming what came before it of the Torah, and as guidance and admonition for the God-fearing—so let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein; and whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, it is they who are the defiantly disobedient.” ⦗al-Maʾida 46–47⦘