superior to supplication but inferior to praise, for it both expresses and declares what Allah loves and commands His servant to do. Its aim is therefore what Allah loves, making it superior to that whose aim is what the servant seeks. Yet praise as a category is superior to it, as Muslim narrated in his Sahīh that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“The best words after the Quran are four, and they are part of the Quran: Glory be to Allah; praise be to Allah; there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; and Allah is greatest.”

He thus declared these words, which constitute remembrance of Allah, superior to all other speech after the Quran. Likewise:

“He said to the man who said, ‘I cannot learn any of the Quran, so teach me something I can do that will suffice’: ‘Glory be to Allah; praise be to Allah; there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; and Allah is greatest.’”

He thus made these words a substitute for the Quran.

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The surah beginning “Say, ‘He is Allah, One’” is superior to the surah beginning “Say, ‘O disbelievers.’” The former commands one to speak words describing the Lord, while the latter commands one to make a declaration of the servant’s devotion to Allah alone. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to give precedence to the former category, as in his words in the authentic hadith:

“O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all who are in them. To You belongs all praise. You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all who are in them. To You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all who are in them. You are the Truth; Your word is the truth; Your promise is true; Paradise is real; and Hell is real;