Second:

Some deny that the standard of comparison must be superior to what is compared with it, maintaining that the two may be equal. The proponent of this view says that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) is superior to Abraham in respects other than the blessings bestowed upon them, while they are equal in those blessings.

This, too, is weak. Receiving blessings from Allah is among the highest honours, if not the highest, and Muhammad is foremost among all creation in this regard. How could it be otherwise, when Allah commanded us to invoke blessings upon him after declaring that He and His angels bestow blessings upon him? Furthermore, Allah and His angels bestow blessings upon those who teach goodness, and he is the best of all who teach goodness. The evidence is abundant, beyond what this answer can accommodate.

Third:

Some say that Abraham’s family includes prophets whose equals are not found among Muhammad’s family. Thus, when one asks for blessings equal to those bestowed upon these prophets, his household receives the share befitting them, since they rank below the prophets, while the remainder goes to Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). He thereby receives a distinction in the blessings bestowed upon him that neither Abraham nor anyone else receives. This answer is better than the preceding ones.

Better still is to say:

Muhammad himself belongs to Abraham’s family, as ʿAlī ibn Abī Talhah narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās concerning Allah’s words:

“Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the family of ʿImrān above all people.”

Ibn ʿAbbās said: “Muhammad belongs to Abraham’s family.” This is clear: if other prophets are included among Abraham’s family, then he has an even greater claim to inclusion among them. Thus, our words:

“Just as You bestowed blessings upon the family of