their obedience to him, and would have reproached him for failing to establish proof against them concerning what he called them to, despite his prolonged challenge to them, his repeatedly putting them to shame, and his long residence among them. Yet they found no way to do so, however eagerly they sought it.

Since matters were as we have described, the soundness of our position is clear concerning his call, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to monotheism, his establishment of proof for it, and his clarification of the ways of arriving at it.

Allah Most High further confirmed the evidence of his prophethood through the miraculous signs particular to him, peace be upon him, which defied their customary experience: his feeding a great multitude with a little food during severe famine; his giving them water to drink during intense thirst from a small quantity that flowed from between his fingers, until both they and their livestock had drunk their fill; the wolf’s speech; the roasted foreleg announcing that it was roasted; the splitting of the moon; the tree coming to him when he called it and returning to its place at his command; and his informing them—peace be upon