ravage people’s bodies, crops, and livestock (1), whereas the Beast that is one of the signs of the Hour has not yet appeared.

B. Germs generally cannot be seen with the naked eye. As for the Beast, no one has said that it is invisible. Rather, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—described features indicating that people will see it: he stated that it will have the staff of Moses and the ring of Solomon—peace be upon them both—and other details already mentioned.

C. This Beast will mark people’s faces as believers or unbelievers: it will make the believer’s face shine and brand the unbeliever’s nose. Germs, however, do nothing of the sort.

D. It appears that what led him to this view was the numerous conflicting reports concerning the Beast’s description (2). Yet Allah’s power is greater still, and whatever is authentically established from the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—must be accepted.

Furthermore, what prevents us from taking the wording in its immediately apparent sense? Nor should we resort