Furthermore, the Jews and Christians would challenge him with objections that had no validity, impugn the Quran on the slightest pretext, and raise these objections with those who had embraced Islam. Thus, they said to al-Mughīrah ibn Shu‘bah: “You read in your book, ‘O sister of Aaron’ [Maryam: 28], yet Moses son of ‘Imrān lived many years before Jesus.”

They assumed that the Aaron mentioned here was Aaron, the brother of Moses. This arose from their profound ignorance. No rational person could fail to know that Moses lived many years before Jesus, that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was not the sister of Moses and Aaron, and that the Messiah was not the son of Moses’ sister. No one with any discernment—even the most inveterate liar—would consider saying something that would make him a laughingstock to everyone who heard it. How, then, could such words come from the greatest of all people in intellect, knowledge, and understanding, who prevailed over the intellects, understanding, and knowledge of mankind? Everyone possessed of reason responded to him, believing his reports and obeying his commands, while everyone who did not respond to him submitted to him—or feared him. Through him, knowledge and clear explanation, guidance and faith spread throughout the world, illuminating it with the utmost brilliance.

Had the Christians who heard this possessed any discernment, they would have known that such a great man, who brought the Quran, could not fail to know that the Messiah was not the son of the sister of Moses son of ‘Imrān, and would never say such a thing. Moreover, had she been the sister of both brothers, it would have been more fitting to identify her in relation to Moses than to Aaron: she would have been addressed as “O sister of Moses.” But since this Mary happened to be the daughter of ‘Imrān, and those two