like the criminals?”

—and the rest of the verse. He also said:

“The blind and the seeing are not equal,”

“Nor is darkness”

—and the rest of the verse. There are many other such passages. And His words:

“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet”

—and the rest of the verse.

This verse and others indicate that what He commands them to do is inherently good, recognized as such by hearts, suited to them, and capable of remedying their corruption. Its being good does not mean merely that it is commanded, since that is a shared characteristic. Thus, what He commands His Messenger to do has a distinctive character; what He forbids is distinguished by being reprehensible and to be avoided; what He permits is distinguished by being wholesome; and what He prohibits is distinguished by being foul. There is much of this in the Quran and in other scriptures, such as the Torah, the Gospel, and the Psalms. And Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows best.