sometimes through alteration and at other times through abrogation. This religion, however, will never be abrogated. Yet there will be those who introduce into it distortion, alteration, lies, and concealment, thereby mixing truth with falsehood. Allah will unfailingly raise up within it people through whom His proof is established, as successors to the messengers. They will purge it of the distortions of extremists, the fabrications of those who promote falsehood, and the misinterpretations of the ignorant. Thus Allah establishes the truth and nullifies falsehood, however much the polytheists may dislike it.

Through the Books sent down from heaven and the legacy of knowledge transmitted from the Seal of the Prophets, Allah distinguishes truth from falsehood and judges between people concerning their differences. This makes it clear that these titles, with their specified numbers, hierarchy, and ranks, do not hold true in every age. Rather, it must be stated categorically that this claim, in its universal and unrestricted form, is false. Believers are sometimes few and sometimes numerous; likewise, those among them who are foremost in faith and brought near to Allah are sometimes few and sometimes numerous, and they move from place to place. It is not a requirement for the allies of Allah—the people of faith and piety, including those foremost in faith and brought near to Him—to remain in one place throughout all ages. Nor is it a requirement for the allies of Allah—the people of faith and piety, including those foremost in faith and brought near to Him—to be of a fixed number.

Allah sent His Messenger with the truth, and a small group in Mecca believed alongside him. They were fewer than seven, then fewer than forty, then fewer than seventy, then fewer than