…and similar works, nor is the report transmitted from Ibn ʿAbbās sound.

These opinions are unfounded. Anyone who continued to follow the shariʿa of Jesus before the mission of Muhammad—peace and blessings be upon him—without altering it were the Christians whom Allah praised; and likewise, anyone who held fast to the shariʿa of Moses before it was abrogated or distorted were the Jews whom Allah praised. Religious seekers such as Ḥabīb al-Najjār followed the religion of the Messiah, as did Baḥīra the monk and others. Indeed, every prophet who preceded Muhammad—and their communities—believed in him; the matter, therefore, is not restricted to that small handful of individuals.

Discussion of Allah’s taking the covenant of the prophets regarding faith in Muhammad:

Allah the Exalted said:

“And [recall] when Allah took the covenant of the prophets: ‘Whatever I have given you of the Scripture and wisdom—then, when a messenger comes to you confirming what you have—you must believe in him and support him.’ He said, ‘Do you affirm and accept My covenant on that condition?’ They said, ‘We affirm.’ He said, ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.’” (Qur’an 3:81)

ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib said:

“Allah did not send any prophet—from Adam onward—without first taking from him a pledge concerning Muhammad and his cause, and without instructing him to take that same pledge from his people: that they would believe in him, and that if he were sent while they were alive they would support him.”

Ibn ʿAbbās likewise said:

“Allah never sent a prophet without taking from him the pledge that, if Muhammad were sent while he was alive, he would believe in him, and without commanding him to take the covenant from his nation that, should Muhammad be sent while they were alive, they would believe in him and support him.”

Some scholars have said:

“The covenant was taken from the prophets and their communities, yet only the prophets were mentioned, for taking the pledge from the leader indicates that it is also taken from the followers. In reality, once the covenant is taken from the prophets, everyone who follows them is included, for they are subordinate to them. If faith in and support for Muhammad is obligatory upon the prophets themselves, it is even more obligatory upon those who follow them; hence only the prophets were mentioned.”