Majmu' al-Fatawa - Ibn Taimiya - (4/202)

a difference greater than that between a raging flood and sweat.

For what Muslims possess of the affirmation of Allah’s oneness; knowledge of His names and attributes, His angels, prophets, and messengers; and knowledge of the Last Day, the nature of Paradise and Hell, reward and punishment, and promises and warnings is far greater and more sublime than what Jews and Christians possess. This is clear to anyone who investigates the matter.

The outward and inward acts of worship practised by Muslims—such as the five daily prayers and other prayers, remembrance of Allah, and supplications—are greater and more sublime than those practised by the People of the Book.

Their revealed law concerning transactions, marriage, legal rulings, prescribed punishments, and penalties is greater and more sublime than that of the People of the Book. Thus, Muslims surpass them in every kind of beneficial knowledge and righteous deed. This becomes apparent to anyone upon even the slightest consideration and requires little effort.

Muslims agree that whatever guidance and goodness they receive has come to them only through their Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Given this, how could Moses and Jesus be prophets while Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is not a prophet, and the Jews and Christians be upon the truth?

مِنْ الْفَرْقِ أَعْظَمُ مِمَّا بَيْنَ الْعَرِمِ وَالْعَرَقِ. فَإِنَّ الَّذِي عِنْدَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ: مِنْ تَوْحِيدِ اللَّهِ وَمَعْرِفَةِ أَسْمَائِهِ وَصِفَاتِهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَأَنْبِيَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَمَعْرِفَةِ الْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَصِفَةِ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ وَالثَّوَابِ وَالْعِقَابِ وَالْوَعْدِ وَالْوَعِيدِ: أَعْظَمُ وَأَجَلُّ بِكَثِيرِ مِمَّا عِنْدَ الْيَهُودِ وَالنَّصَارَى. وَهَذَا بَيِّنٌ لِكُلِّ مَنْ يَبْحَثُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ. وَمَا عِنْدَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ الْعِبَادَاتِ الظَّاهِرَةِ وَالْبَاطِنَةِ: مِثْلَ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ؛ وَغَيْرِهَا مِنْ الصَّلَوَاتِ؛ وَالْأَذْكَارِ وَالدَّعَوَاتِ: أَعْظَمُ وَأَجَلُّ مِمَّا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ. وَمَا عِنْدَهُمْ مِنْ الشَّرِيعَةِ فِي الْمُعَامَلَاتِ وَالْمُنَاكَحَاتِ وَالْأَحْكَامِ وَالْحُدُودِ وَالْعُقُوبَاتِ: أَعْظَمُ وَأَجَلُّ مِمَّا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ. فَالْمُسْلِمُونَ فَوْقَهُمْ فِي كُلِّ عِلْمٍ نَافِعٍ وَعَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ وَهَذَا يَظْهَرُ لِكُلِّ أَحَدٍ بِأَدْنَى نَظَرٍ لَا يَحْتَاجُ إلَى كَثِيرِ سَعْيٍ. وَالْمُسْلِمُونَ مُتَّفِقُونَ عَلَى أَنَّ كُلَّ هُدًى وَخَيْرٍ يَحْصُلُ لَهُمْ: فَإِنَّمَا حَصَلَ بِنَبِيِّهِمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؛ فَكَيْفَ يُمْكِنُ مَعَ هَذَا أَنْ يَكُونَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى نَبِيَّيْنِ وَمُحَمَّدٌ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيْسَ بِنَبِيِّ وَأَنَّ الْيَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى عَلَى الْحَقِّ؟ .