Rather, they knew Allah and His Messenger too well, and understood too well the reverence owed to the Messenger’s law, to attribute to him anything except what they knew to have come from him. Concerning any errors they made—even while exercising independent judgment—they said:

“Allah and His Messenger are free of it.”

Allah Most High says:

“The Messenger’s duty is only to convey the message clearly.”

And He says:

“He is responsible only for what he has been charged with, and you are responsible for what you have been charged with.”

And He says:

“We will surely question those to whom messengers were sent, and We will surely question the messengers.”

Thus, you find that the Muslim community has differed over certain questions, holding several opinions, although only one of them represents what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sent with. As for the other opinions, if those who hold them are qualified to exercise independent judgment and are people of knowledge and religious integrity, then they are obedient to Allah and His Messenger, rewarded rather than sinful. This is like people travelling who cannot determine the direction of the qiblah: each group exercises its judgment and prays towards one of the four directions. The Kaaba lies in only one of those directions, yet the others are rewarded for their prayers because they have feared Allah as much as they could.

One of the signs of the message brought by the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is that when it is clearly presented alongside other views, its light and guidance become apparent, and the other opinion is recognized as inferior to it. For the best speech is Allah’s speech, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, says:

“Say: If mankind and the jinn were to come together to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce its like, even if they supported one another.”

And this challenge