of a lizard, you would enter it.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Jews and Christians?” He replied, “Who else?”

In the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also said:

“My nation will surely follow the ways of the nations before it, span by span and cubit by cubit.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, do you mean the Persians and Romans?” He replied, “Who else but those peoples?”

This proves that there will be people in this nation who resemble the People of the Book in the conduct for which Allah censured them in this verse. This is a truth that has been witnessed. Allah Most High said:

“We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a witness over all things?”

Whoever reflects on what Allah and His Messenger have foretold will see that many of these things—indeed, most of them—have already occurred. This indicates to him that the remainder will also occur.

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It has thus become clear that one must seek knowledge of the Book and wisdom that Allah revealed to His Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and understand their intended meaning, as did the Companions, those who followed them in goodness, and those who followed their path. Allah and His Messenger have explained everything people need in their religion with complete clarity. How much more, then, the fundamentals of monotheism and faith! Once what the Messenger explained is known, one then examines the statements of