(93–95) “All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel had made unlawful to himself before the Torah was revealed. Say, ‘Bring the Torah and recite it, if you are truthful.’ Then whoever fabricates lies about Allah after that—it is they who are the wrongdoers. Say, ‘Allah has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; he was not one of the polytheists.’”
This is a response to the Jews’ false claim that abrogation is impermissible. They therefore disbelieved in Jesus and Muhammad—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them both—because they brought rulings concerning what is lawful and unlawful that differed from some of the rulings of the Torah. Perfect fairness in debate requires holding them to what is found in their own scripture, the Torah: all kinds of food were lawful to the Children of Israel, “except what Israel had made unlawful”—Israel being Jacob, peace be upon him—“to himself.” That is, Allah Most High had not forbidden it; rather, he made it unlawful to himself. When he was afflicted with sciatica, he vowed that, if Allah Most High healed him, he would forbid himself the food he loved most. It is related that he consequently abstained from camel meat and milk, and his sons followed him in this. This occurred before the Torah was revealed.
Thereafter, the Torah prohibited other things besides those Israel had made unlawful—wholesome things that had previously been lawful to them—as Allah Most High says, “Because of wrongdoing by those who became Jews, We made unlawful to them wholesome things that had been lawful to them.” Allah commanded His Messenger, if they denied this, to tell them to produce the Torah. Yet even after this, they persisted in wrongdoing and obstinacy. Allah Most High therefore says, “Then whoever fabricates lies about Allah after that—it is they who are the wrongdoers.” What wrongdoing could be greater than that of someone who is called upon to let his own scripture decide the matter, yet refuses out of obstinacy, arrogance, and tyranny?
This is among the greatest proofs of the soundness of the prophethood of our Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Clear and diverse signs establish his truthfulness and the truth of the One who informed him of the matters he related—matters he could know only because his Lord had informed him of them. Allah Most High therefore says, “Say, ‘Allah has told the truth’”—that is, in what He has related and decreed.
This is a command from Allah to His Messenger and those who follow him to say with their tongues, “Allah has told the truth,” while believing it in their hearts on the basis of definitive evidence, and to uphold this testimony against anyone who denies it. From this, you learn that those who most fully affirm Allah’s truth are those who possess the greatest knowledge and certainty regarding the detailed scriptural and rational proofs.
He then commanded them to follow the religion of their father Abraham, peace be upon him, by affirming monotheism and abandoning polytheism. Monotheism is the foundation of happiness, while abandoning it results in misery. This proves that the Jews and all others who do not follow the religion of Abraham are polytheists, not monotheists. Having commanded them to follow Abraham’s religion in affirming monotheism and abandoning polytheism, He also commanded them to follow him by venerating His Sacred House through Hajj and other acts. He said: