they believed, We removed from them the humiliating punishment in this worldly life and granted them enjoyment for a time. ⦗Jonah 98⦘.

That is, there never was a town whose faith benefited it—save the people of Jonah.

It is absolutely certain that from the first prophet to the last, no messenger was ever affirmed and followed by as many nations as affirmed Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Those who followed him from among the nations are many times (1) greater in number than those two denying communities—so many, in fact, that none can count them except Allah (2). No one possessed of even the least modicum of reason can doubt that misguidance (3), ignorance, waywardness, and intellectual corruption cling far more closely to those who opposed him and denied his prophethood than to those who follow him and acknowledge it.

Hence it may be asked: How could it possibly be that these nations—whom none but Allah can number (4), who have spread to the farthest reaches of East and West, and whose natures, motives, and purposes differ so widely—should unanimously agree to follow someone who lies against Allah (and His messengers, and) (5) against reason, declaring lawful what Allah (and His messengers) have forbidden and forbidding what Allah and His messengers have allowed?

It is well known that anyone who lies against Allah (6) by claiming prophethood (7) is the worst of Allah’s creation, the most depraved (8), the most unjust, and the greatest liar.