in speech?” (87) [al-Masā’ 87]

“Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book.” [al-Zumar 23]

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said, “The truest speech is the speech of Allah.” In the hadith of Ibn Mas‘ūd and al-Mughīra, he described Allah by saying, “No one loves praise more than Allah.” Likewise, he said, “No one loves being free of blame more than Allah.”

For jealousy belongs to the sphere of hatred and anger, whose counterparts are love and pleasure. He thus affirmed Allah’s utmost perfection in both respects, explaining that no one hates forbidden things as He does, and no one loves expressions of praise as He does. Such praise can only concern something good for which its possessor deserves commendation—the opposite of the evil that arouses His jealousy.