Some of them said, “Perhaps they are those who were born into Islam and never ascribed any partner whatsoever to Allah,” and they mentioned other possibilities.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then came out to them and said, “What is this matter you are discussing?” When they informed him of what they had been saying, he replied,

“They are those who neither cauterize themselves, nor seek ruqyah, nor follow omens; rather, they rely upon their Lord.”

ʿUkāshah ibn Miḥṣan (1) al-Asadī stood up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, am I one of them?” He answered, “You are one of them.” Another man then rose and said, “O Messenger of Allah, am I one of them?” He replied, “ʿUkāshah has beaten you to it.” (2)

This ḥadīth comes through a great many chains; it is recorded in the Ṣaḥīḥ collections, the ḥasan collections, and elsewhere. God willing, we shall cite them in the chapter on the Description of Paradise when discussing the conditions and terrors of the Day of Resurrection. (3)

Allah, exalted is He, mentions Moses—peace be upon him—many times in the Qur’an, praising him and relating his story over and over—sometimes at length and in detail, sometimes briefly—and lauding him in exalted terms. Indeed, Allah often pairs Moses and his Book with Muhammad ﷺ and his Book, as He says in Sūrat al-Baqarah:

“When there came to them a messenger from Allah confirming what was with them, a group of those who had been given the Scripture cast the Book of Allah behind their backs as though they did not know.” (2:101)

He also says:

“Alif Lām Mīm. Allah—there is no deity but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer. He has sent down upon you the Book in truth, confirming what preceded it; and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as guidance for mankind, and He sent down the Criterion. Surely those who disbelieve in the signs of Allah will have a severe punishment; and Allah is Mighty, Lord of Retribution.” (Āl ʿImrān 1–4)

And in Sūrat al-Anʿām He says:

“They did not value Allah as He deserves to be valued when they said, ‘Allah has not sent down anything to a human being.’ Say, ‘Who then sent down the Book that Moses brought, a light and guidance for the people? You turn it into parchments, showing some of it while concealing much, and you were taught what neither you nor your fathers had known.’ Say, ‘Allah [sent it down]; then leave them to play in their speculation. This is a blessed Book that We have sent down, confirming what was before it, so that you may warn the Mother of Cities and those around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in it, and they are constant in their prayers.” (6:91–92)

Thus the Exalted praised the Torah, and then He extolled the magnificent Qur’an with splendid praise, saying at the end of that sūrah:

“Then We gave Moses the Book, perfecting [Our favor] upon the one who acts with excellence, an explanation of everything, a guidance and a mercy, so that they might believe in the meeting with their Lord. And this is a blessed Book that We have sent down; so follow it and be mindful that you may receive mercy.” (6:154–155)

And in Sūrat al-Mā’idah He says:

“Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which were guidance and light. The prophets who had submitted judged by it for the Jews, as did the godly scholars and the rabbis, in accordance with what they were entrusted of the Book of Allah and because they were witnesses over it. So do not fear the people; fear Me, and do not—” [verse continues]