This is despite the fact that the authority with which Allah supported His Messenger—through miraculous proofs and dazzling displays of power—is greater than that with which He supported others. His prophethood is the one whose light has spread throughout the earth, east and west. Through him, the prophethood of those who preceded him was established, and truth was distinguished from falsehood. Without his message, people—both the People of the Book and those without scripture—would have been in layers of darkness, one above another, and in utter confusion, with those who were turned away diverted from it.

Since nothing is said to him except what was said to the messengers before him, Allah, glorified be He, commanded him to call upon the People of the Book to testify to the like of what he brought. This is part of the wisdom in allowing them to remain upon payment of the jizya, as in His words, Most High:

“So if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you.”

And His words:

“Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, as is whoever possesses knowledge of the Scripture.”

And His words:

“We sent before you only men to whom We revealed—so ask the people of knowledge if you do not know—with clear proofs and scriptures. And We sent down to you the Reminder so that you may explain to people what was sent down to them.”

And in the other passage:

“We sent before you only men to whom We revealed, so ask the people of knowledge if you do not know. Nor did We give them bodies that did not eat food.”

And the rest of the verse. Likewise, His words:

“Say: Have you considered: if it is from Allah and you disbelieve in it, while a witness from the Children of Israel has testified to its like?”

The essence of these disbelievers’ specious arguments is that they drew an analogy between the Messenger and those from whom Allah had distinguished him, and denied the grace with which Allah had singled out His messengers. Their error thus arose