or the third of three, as the Christians say. Nor have they disbelieved in him and uttered a monstrous slander against Mary, claiming that he was the son of a prostitute, as the Jews alleged. Rather, they have said that he is Allah’s servant and Messenger, His word which He conveyed to Mary, the chaste virgin, and a spirit from Him.
Likewise, the believers “take a middle course concerning the laws of Allah’s religion.” They have not held, as the Jews did, that Allah may not abrogate whatever He wills, or erase and confirm whatever He wills. Allah the Most High relates this about them in His words:
“The foolish among the people will say, ‘What has turned them away from the direction of prayer they used to face?’”
And in His words:
“When they are told, ‘Believe in what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us,’ and disbelieve in what came after it, although it is the truth, confirming what they have.”
Nor have they permitted their leading scholars and worshippers to change Allah’s religion, commanding whatever they wish and forbidding whatever they wish, as the Christians do. Allah mentions this about them in His words:
“They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.”
‘Adī ibn Hātim, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, surely they did not worship them?’ He replied, ‘They did not worship them; but they made unlawful things lawful for them, and they obeyed them; and they made lawful things unlawful for them, and they obeyed them.’”
The believers have said: “To Allah belong creation and command.” Just as none but Him creates, none but Him commands. They have said, “We hear and obey,” and have obeyed everything Allah has commanded. They have said:
“Indeed, Allah decrees whatever He wills.”
As for a created being, he has no right to alter the command of the Creator, the Most High, however great he may be.
The same applies to the attributes of Allah the Most High: the Jews have described Allah the Most High with the attributes of created beings