and relieved you of your burden﴿ [al-Sharh: 1, 2]. Another example is Allah Most High’s statement: ﴾We have sent you to mankind as a Messenger﴿ [al-Nisā’: 79]. It is well known that this applies exclusively to the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family.

An example of the second category—an address directed to the Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, accompanied by evidence that it applies generally—is Allah Most High’s statement: ﴾O Prophet, when you [all] divorce women, divorce them at the proper time for their waiting period﴿ [al-Talāq: 1]. The address was initially directed to the Messenger, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him: He said, ﴾O Prophet﴿, rather than, “O you who believe, when you [all] divorce.” He then said, ﴾O Prophet, when you [all] divorce﴿, rather than, “O Prophet, when you [singular] divorce.” This demonstrates that the address directed to the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—is directed to both him and the Muslim community.

Examples of the third category are extremely numerous: Allah directs the wording of the address to the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—while its ruling is intended to apply generally.

Here Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says: ﴾Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High﴿. ﴾Glorify﴿ means: declare Allah to be far above everything unbefitting His majesty and greatness. Glorification means declaring Him free of all imperfection. When you say, “Glory be to Allah,” it means: I declare Allah to be far above every evil, defect, and deficiency. For this reason, among Allah Most High’s Names are al-Salām (the One Free of All Imperfection) and al-Quddūs (the Most Holy), for He is free of every defect.

Let me give some examples. One of Allah Most High’s attributes is life, and His life contains no deficiency whatsoever. The life of a created being, however, is deficient. First, it is preceded by nonexistence, for the human being has not existed from eternity. Second, it is followed by extinction: ﴾Everyone upon it will perish﴿ [al-Rahmān: 26].

Another example is the hearing of Allah, Glorified and Exalted. It contains no deficiency, for He hears everything. Indeed, the woman who came to complain to the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—and whose story Allah Most High mentioned in Surah al-Mujādilah was speaking to the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family—