which is authentic (1):

“Indeed, Islam wipes away what preceded it.”

In another wording:

“It wipes away what preceded it; migration wipes away what preceded it, and Hajj wipes away what preceded it” (2).

Second: Not everyone born into Islam is superior to someone who embraced Islam himself. Rather, widely transmitted texts establish that the best generation is the first (3). Most of its members embraced Islam themselves after having been disbelievers, yet they are superior to the second generation, whose members were born into Islam.

For this reason, most scholars have said (4) that it is possible for Allah to send a prophet (5) from among those who believed in the prophets before Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. For if it is possible for Him to send a prophet from the descendants of Abraham and Moses, then sending one from among those who believed in them is all the more fitting and appropriate.

As He, Exalted is He, says:

“So Lot believed him, and he said, ‘Indeed, I will emigrate to my Lord.’” [Surah al-Ankabūt: 26]

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“Those who disbelieved said to their messengers, ‘We will surely expel you from our land, or you must return to our religion.’ Then their Lord revealed to them, ‘We will surely destroy the wrongdoers, and We will surely settle you in the land after them.’” [Surah Ibrāhīm: 13–14]

And He, Exalted is He, says:

“The arrogant chiefs among his people said, ‘We will surely expel you, O Shuayb, and those who have believed with you, from our town, unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘Even if we are unwilling? We would have fabricated a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah had saved us from it. It is not for us to return to it unless Allah, our Lord, should will. Our Lord encompasses…’”—to the end of the verse. [Surah al-Arāf: 88–89]