believe in it,” refer to a group, yet nothing suitable to serve as their referent has previously been mentioned except man (“whoever”). A pronoun sometimes agrees with the singular wording of man and sometimes with its collective meaning, as in His words:

“Among them is one who listens to you.”

“Among them are those who listen to you.”

“Whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female…”

“Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good life,” to the end of the verse.

A demonstrative referring to its collective meaning makes this even clearer than a pronoun does. Thus, His words, “Those believe in it,” show that those who stand upon clear evidence from their Lord are many, not one.

Ibn Abī Hātim said: ‘Āmir ibn Sālih narrated to us, from his father, from al-Hasan al-Basrī, concerning the words, “Is one who stands upon clear evidence from his Lord…?” He said: “The believer stands upon clear evidence from his Lord.” What al-Hasan al-Basrī said is correct, and the Messenger is the foremost of the believers, as He says:

“And I have been commanded to be among the believers.”

As for those who say that the witness from Allah is Muhammad—as Ibn Abī Hātim reported: al-Ashajj narrated to us; Abū Usāmah narrated to us, from ‘Awf, from Sulaymān al-Fulānī, from al-Husayn ibn ‘Alī, concerning the words, “And a witness from Him follows it”: “This means Muhammad, a witness from Allah”—here, his being a witness from Allah means that he is Allah’s Messenger. He testifies that the believers follow the truth. Although he also testifies on his own behalf that he is Allah’s Messenger, the truth of his testimony about himself is already established by the proofs demonstrating his prophethood. His testimony concerning the believers, however, is known only through him, through what has reached him of the Quran and what he reports from