as a radiant lamp, and through it He granted the people of the earth a favor for which they can never offer due thanks. The earth gleamed with its light in the fullest brilliance, and that light (1) poured forth until it filled every region and horizon. The moon of guidance waxed to perfect fullness, and the ḥanīf religion of God (2) stood firmly upon its feet.

All praise belongs to God, who rescued us by means of Muhammad ﷺ from those layers of darkness, opened for us through him the gate of guidance—never to be shut until the appointed Day—and, by his light, enabled us to see the people of misguidance floundering in their error, wandering in their stupor, rolling about in their ignorance, and wavering in their doubt. They profess faith—but “in al-jibt and al-ṭāghūt do they believe” (3); they set up equals—yet it is with their very Lord that they set up equals; they possess knowledge—yet only of the outward life of this world, while of the Hereafter they remain heedless; they prostrate—but to the cross, the idol, and the sun (4) they prostrate. They scheme, but they scheme only against themselves, though they are unaware.

“Allah has certainly bestowed a great favor upon the believers when He raised up among them a messenger from themselves who recites to them His verses, purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom—even though before that they had been in manifest error.” ⦗Āl ʿImrān 164⦘.

“Just as We have sent among you a messenger from yourselves who recites to you Our verses, purifies you, teaches you the Book and wisdom, and teaches you what you did not know.” ⦗al-Baqarah 151⦘.