The covenant of the prophets (confirming and supporting each messenger)

Sha'rawi comments on the verse that describes the covenant God took from the prophets (Al Imran 81): that they should believe in the messenger who confirms what they hold, and support him. He argues that this covenant protects the succession of messages from zealotry, so that no messenger opposes a messenger who confirms what lies before him ¹².

Sha'rawi says that religion comes with matters agreed in belief, reports and stories, and that what differs is the law, which suits one age and not another. This is why Islam came confirming what came before it in its foundations, with laws suited to every time and place ⁶⁴.

Sha'rawi holds that testimony needs a witness, a party witnessed against, and a matter witnessed. The prophets witness for one another, a messenger witnesses against his community, and God witnesses over all. He concludes that a religion which turns zealous against a later religion, after the later one has come with the sign showing its message is true, has betrayed this covenant ³⁴.

Sha'rawi says turning away means refusing the new religion after the covenant and the testimony of prophets and peoples, so no one has an excuse. He explains fisq by its root sense, the date leaving its skin, and distinguishes a partial lapse from the greater fisq of leaving the whole community of faith ⁵⁷. See Fisq.

This is Sha'rawi's reading alone, taken from a scanned copy whose edition is not yet verified, and it is presented under his name. The history of relations between the religions from scholarly sources has not yet been added (needs_source). See also The covenant with the Children of Israel and The completion of the final message.