But if you say instead that all of this took place while Allah knew of it, witnessed it, and was fully aware of it, then one of two possibilities remains: either He was able to change it, restrain the man, and prevent him, or He was not.

If He was not able, you have attributed to Him the most dreadful impotence (1), something utterly incompatible with Lordship. And if He was able, yet He still honors him, grants him victory, supports him, raises him high, exalts his word, answers his prayers, enables him to overcome his enemies, and displays through his hands more than a thousand kinds of miracles and extraordinary signs—no one sets out to harm him without being subdued, and he never supplicates without being answered—then this would be the grossest injustice and folly, unbefitting even the least rational person, let alone the Lord of earth and heaven. How much more so when He actually testifies on his behalf by allowing him to persist in his claim, by supporting him, and by speaking through him—while, according to you, such testimony would amount to false witness and lies! (2)

When he heard this he said, “Allah forbid that He would do such a thing for a lying impostor. Rather, he is a truthful prophet; whoever follows him prospers and attains happiness.”

I said, “Then why do you not enter his religion?”

He replied, “He was only sent to the unlettered people who had no scripture, whereas we possess a scripture that we follow.”

I said to him, “You are defeated on every count, for it is known to both elite and commoners alike that he proclaimed himself the Messenger of Allah to all creation, that whoever does not follow him is an unbeliever bound for Hellfire, and that he fought the Jews and the Christians even though they are People of the Scripture. Once his prophethood has been established, it becomes obligatory…"