lies, injustice, calls to disobey Allah, and prohibitions against obeying Him, the extent of which Allah knows. Whenever I tried to answer him and entrust him with a message to convey, he refused to hear or convey any of it. He wanted nothing but an acknowledgment of what he had stated and a commitment not to return to it. Yet Allah Most High says:

“Do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in the best manner, except with those among them who commit injustice.”

When the person addressing us acts unjustly, we are not commanded to answer him in the best manner. Indeed, when ʿUrwa ibn Masʿūd said, “I see a rabble of men likely to flee and abandon you,” Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, replied in the Prophet’s presence, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Suck al-Lāt’s clitoris! Would we flee from him and abandon him?”

It is well known that honour belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, whoever they may be. Allah Most High has said:

“Do not lose heart or grieve, for you will have the upper hand if you are believers.”

Whoever is a believer has the upper hand, whoever he may be. As for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, Allah Most High has said:

“Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the most abased.”

Whichever of these two groups I or anyone else belongs to, Allah will deal with me and with others according to His promise, for His word is the truth:

“The promise of Allah—Allah never fails in His promise.”

Among the things I said to him was: “The right at stake in this affair is not mine; it belongs to Allah, His Messenger, and all the believers, from the east of the earth to its west. I have no intention of altering or changing the religion. Neither for your sake nor for anyone else’s will I apostatize from Islam and admit to unbelief, lies, and slander, whether retracting it or assenting to it.”