and clarified the matters over which people differed. The prophets before him did likewise. Allah Most High says:
“Humankind was one community. Then Allah sent the prophets as bearers of good tidings and warners, and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between people concerning their differences. None differed over it except those who had been given it, after clear proofs had come to them, out of jealous rivalry among themselves. Then Allah, by His permission, guided those who believed to the truth concerning which they had differed. Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.”
He Most High also says:
“By Allah, We certainly sent messengers to nations before you, but Satan made their deeds seem attractive to them. So he is their ally today, and they will have a painful punishment.”
“And We have not sent down the Book to you except for you to clarify for them that over which they differed, and as guidance and mercy for people who believe.”
He, glorified and exalted is He, says:
“Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion to His servant, that he might be a warner to all peoples.”
He Most High also says:
“Alif Lām Mīm.”
“Allah—there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all.”
“He has sent down to you the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, and He sent down the Torah and the Gospel,”
“previously, as guidance for humankind; and He sent down the Criterion.”
The great majority of Quran commentators said that it is the Quran. Ibn Abī Hātim related through his chain of transmission that al-Rabīʿ ibn Anas said: “It is the Criterion: it distinguished between truth and falsehood.” He added: “Similar statements have been related from ʿAtāʾ, Mujāhid, Muqsim, Qatādah and Muqātil ibn Hayyān.”
It was also related through his chain of transmission, from Shaybān, from Qatādah, concerning His words, “and He sent down the Criterion,” that he said: “It is the Quran, which Allah sent down to Muhammad. Through it He distinguished between truth and falsehood, clarified His religion, prescribed His laws, made lawful what He permitted and unlawful what He forbade, and laid down