and that they are obliged to obey him, this must be true. Anyone who acknowledges that he is Allah’s Messenger but denies that he was sent to the People of the Book is like someone who says: “Moses was a messenger, but he was under no obligation to enter the land of Syria or to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt; Allah did not command him to do so, nor did He command him to observe the Sabbath, reveal the Torah to him, or speak to him on Mount Sinai.” He is also like someone who says that Jesus was Allah’s Messenger but was not sent to the Children of Israel, that they were under no obligation to obey him, and that he wronged the Jews—or makes similar statements expressing the gravest disbelief.
For this reason, Allah Most High says:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to distinguish between Allah and His messengers and say, ‘We believe in some and disbelieve in others’”
up to His words:
“But those who believe in Allah and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them,”
and the rest of the verse.
He also says to the Children of Israel:
“Do you then believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part?”
up to His words:
“And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”
This clear, manifest, and conclusive line of argument demonstrates to every Muslim, Jew, and Christian that the religion of the Muslims is the truth, not that of the Jews and Christians. It rests on two premises:
- (The first is that the prophethood and mission of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the guidance of his community are more evident and clearer. They can be established by every means through which the prophethood of Moses and Jesus, peace and blessings be upon them both, can be established, and by additional means besides. It is therefore impossible to affirm that they were prophets while denying that he was one. If a person wishes, he may establish this through the call itself and what he brought; or, if he wishes, through the Book with which he was sent; or, if he wishes,