like it,” meaning better and more beneficial for you.

The correct view, held by the majority of the early generations and the leading scholars, is that some of Allah’s speech is superior to other parts, as both revelation and reason demonstrate.

For an authentic hadith reports:

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Abū Sa‘īd ibn al-Mu‘allā: ‘I shall teach you a surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Quran.’”

He then told him that it was the Opening of the Book. Thus the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stated—thus the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, stated—that nothing in the Quran is like it. This refutes the claim that all of Allah’s speech is equal in excellence.

Likewise, it is established in al-Sahīh that he said to Ubayy ibn Ka‘b:

“Do you know which verse in Allah’s Book is the greatest?”

He replied:

“Allah—there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence.”

He then struck my chest with his hand and said:

“May this knowledge bring you joy, Abū al-Mundhir!”

He thereby made clear that this verse is greater than the other verses.