to the meanings of the Qur’an—whether in their essential reality, their manner of exposition, or their sheer abundance; on the contrary, anyone who reflects on the Qur’an and then reflects on those scriptures will immediately perceive the difference.

When such matters become clear to a person of learning and insight, the Qur’an’s inimitability from this angle reveals itself to him. Whoever does not perceive this contents himself with the more apparent proof that is obvious to him and his peers: the utter inability of all created beings to produce anything like it, despite the Prophet’s open challenge and his foretelling of their failure—for that is a plain fact visible to everyone.

The proofs of prophethood belong to the same class as the proofs of divine Lordship. Among them are signs that are manifest and evident to all—such as the observable events of creating animals and plants, the formation of clouds, the sending down of rain, and the like. Among them as well are matters grasped only by those equipped for such knowledge, like the subtleties of anatomy, the precise measurements of the stars and their movements, and so forth. All creatures stand in need of affirming the Creator and affirming His messengers; and whatever is most urgently required for their religious and worldly welfare, Allah bestows upon His servants as a universal, readily accessible beneficence.

Thus, because their need for breath is greater than their need for water, and their need for water greater than their need for food, He—glorified be He—has provided air as a universal bounty in every place and time for the indispensable sustenance of living beings; then