Positive Responses Recorded by the Quran
A group from among the People of the Scripture—those whose hearts Allah opened to truth and faith, whose eyes He enlightened with guidance and light—recognized the call they had been awaiting and the Prophet for whose victory they used to pray. This group truly believed in Muhammad ﷺ and followed him. Why would they not believe, when every proof of this Prophet’s truthfulness had been established? Their own books had foretold him, and they themselves had witnessed the unmistakable signs of his prophethood. Allah, exalted is He, related and preserved their reaction, saying:
“Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them, fall upon their faces in prostration 107 and say, ‘Glory be to our Lord! The promise of our Lord has certainly come to pass.’ 108 And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it increases them in humility.” ⦗1⦘ (al-Isrāʾ 17:107-109)
He also says:
“Those to whom We had previously given the Scripture believe in it 52, and when it is recited to them they say, ‘We believe in it; it is the truth from our Lord. Even before this we were already Muslims.’ 53 Such people will be given their reward twice because they have been steadfast; they repel evil with what is better and spend out of what We have provided for them. 54 And when they hear idle talk they turn away from it and say, ‘Our deeds are ours and yours are yours. Peace be upon you; we do not seek the company of the ignorant.’” ⦗2⦘ (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:52-55)
There are many other verses to this effect, some of which will be cited on other occasions.
Historical Reality Confirms It
The facts of history bear witness to this truth: countless men and women of discernment, intellect, and learning—known only to Allah—embraced Islam once they recognized the truth among the People of the Scripture. The domain of Islam spread east and west because most of these communities accepted the faith and entered the religion of Allah in multitudes, until the remaining unbelievers lived among them under