been established that he praised individuals who died during the interval between messengers, such as Zayd ibn ʿAmr and others. Ibn Abī Hātim reported no disagreement among the early generations. However, he related that Ibn ʿAbbās said: “Then Allah revealed the verse beginning, ‘And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam.’” What he meant was that Allah makes clear that He accepts only Islam from earlier and later generations alike. Many of the early scholars used the term “abrogation” to mean setting aside a meaning mistakenly thought to be indicated by a verse.

It is well known that whoever rejects even one messenger is a disbeliever and is therefore not included in His words, “Whoever believes in Allah,” and what follows.

Some people mistakenly supposed that the verse concerned only those to whom Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was sent. They then split into mutually contradictory positions.