in Allah.” This describes them as enjoining everything that is right and forbidding everything that is wrong, just as their Prophet is described in His words:

“Whom they find mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel in their possession: he enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong.”

He likewise describes the believers in His words:

“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.”

If the community were to affirm something in religion that constitutes misguidance, it would not have enjoined what is right or forbidden what is wrong in that matter. Allah Most High also said:

“Thus We have made you a middle nation, so that you may be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger may be a witness over you.”

“Middle” means just and the best. Allah has made them witnesses over mankind and accorded their testimony the standing of the Messenger’s testimony. It is authentically reported that:

“A funeral procession passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the people spoke well of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured! It is assured!’ Then another funeral procession passed by him, and they spoke ill of the deceased. He said, ‘It is assured! It is assured!’ They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what do you mean by saying, “It is assured! It is assured!”?’

“He replied, ‘You spoke well of this deceased person, so I said that Paradise was assured for them. You spoke ill of the other deceased person, so I said that the Fire was assured for them. You are Allah’s witnesses on earth.’”

Since the Lord has made them witnesses, they do not bear false testimony. Thus, if they testify that Allah has commanded something, then He has indeed commanded it; and if they testify that Allah has forbidden something, then He has indeed forbidden it. Were they to testify falsely or mistakenly, they would not be Allah’s witnesses