I said to him, “What, then, keeps you from attaining this happiness (1)?”

He answered, “The followers of every prophet are like that; the followers of Moses too are blessed.”

I replied, “Once you acknowledge that he is a truthful prophet, then he has (2) pronounced unbelief upon whoever does not follow him, declared such a person’s blood and wealth lawful, and ruled that he will enter the Fire. If you believe him in this, you must follow him; and if you deny him in it, then he is no prophet—so how can his followers be happy?!”

He had no answer (3) and said, “Speak to us (4) about something else.”

So observe this balance and resemblance between what the Jahmiyyah—the negators—are inevitably driven to of disparaging and assailing the one who speaks by the texts concerning the divine attributes, and what those who deny the prophethood of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, are inevitably driven to of disparaging and assailing the Lord, exalted is He.

When you add to that the further consequence for them of maligning His Speech and censuring it (5), claiming that it plainly contains disbelief, misguidance, falsehood, and absurdity, you will understand the reality of the matter, and guidance will become distinct from error. Allah’s help is sought.