bear witness to the truth knowingly,” is a disconnected exception, according to the more correct of the two views.

People thus divided into “three groups” regarding them: one group denied their intermediary role in conveying the message and therefore rejected the Scriptures and the messengers. These include the peoples of Noah, Hūd, Sālih, Lot and Shuʿayb, Pharaoh’s people, and others whom Allah describes as having rejected the messengers. They rejected the messengers as a whole; they believe in some of them but not others.

Among these are those who deny prophethood, including the Brahmins, the polytheist philosophers of India, and other polytheists. Whoever rejects the messengers can only be a polytheist. The same applies to whoever rejects some of them but not others, as He, Most High, says:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers, wish to make a distinction between Allah and His messengers, say, ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others,’ and wish to adopt a way in between—those are truly the disbelievers.”

Thus, whoever rejects Muhammad, the Messiah, David, Solomon, or any other prophet sent after Moses is a disbeliever. He, Most High, says:

“We certainly gave Moses the Scripture and sent messengers after him in succession.”

And He, Most High, says:

“We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Is it that whenever a messenger came to you with what your souls did not desire, you grew arrogant, rejecting some and killing others?”

And He, Most High, says:

“When they are told, ‘Believe in what Allah has revealed,’ they say, ‘We believe in what was revealed to us,’ yet they disbelieve in what came after it, although it is the truth, confirming what they already possess. Say, ‘Why then