Forsaking the Words of God for the Precept of Men

The prophecy continues, and it states that before the time of this man who will receive the book, Muhammad (peace be upon him), the people would be forsaking the words of God for the precept of men. So it states that before the time of Muhammad (peace be upon him), people would neglect the law of Allah and follow the law of man. And that is exactly what happened. ʿĪsā, peace be upon him, came to fulfil the law of Mūsā, and then Saint Paul came in and told them otherwise. Jesus, for example, was circumcised; Paul says: no, you do not have to be circumcised. Jesus said: "I came to fulfil the law, letter by letter, dot by dot, word by word." Paul said: no, you do not have to fulfil the law. So they left the law of God and followed the law of man, which is a fulfilment of this prophecy.

The prophecy continues: "And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed" — so there is a sealed book which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, "Read this," and he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." So the Qur'an was sealed, and even the learned men did not have access to it before Muhammad (peace be upon him), because it was destined to go to the man who is unlearned. "And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, 'Read this,' and he says, 'I am not learned.' Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men." So now the people are following the words of men.