even if Allah has not bestowed upon the one of lesser rank the faith He has bestowed upon the superior, nor granted his heart the means of attaining that superior faith that He has granted the one of lesser rank.

For this reason, Allah has favoured some prophets over others, even if the superior has performed fewer deeds than the one of lesser rank. Thus, Allah favoured our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—whose prophethood lasted twenty-odd years—over Noah, who remained among his people for a thousand years less fifty. He also favoured the community of Muhammad, who worked from the afternoon prayer until sunset, over those who worked from the beginning of the day until the midday prayer, and over those who worked from the midday prayer until the afternoon prayer. Allah gave the community of Muhammad a double reward, while giving each of the others a single reward, because the faith in their hearts was more complete and superior. The others did more work, but these received a greater reward. This is His bounty, which He grants to whomever He wills through the means He has graciously bestowed upon them and with which He has distinguished them.

The same applies to all others whom Allah Most High favours: He favours them through the means by which they deserve a greater reward. Thus, He may endow one of two people with a capacity through which he attains knowledge, and a capacity through which he attains certainty, patience, reliance upon Allah, sincere devotion, and other qualities by which Allah grants him distinction. He favours him in reward only because of the faith with which He has favoured him.

As Allah Most High says:

“A group among the People of the Scripture said, ‘Believe in what has been revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day, then reject it at its end, so that they may turn back.’”

“‘And trust only those who follow your religion.’ Say, ‘True guidance is Allah’s guidance.’ Do you fear that anyone should be given the like of what you have been given, or that they should argue against you before your Lord? Say, ‘All bounty is in Allah’s hand.’”

He says in another verse:

“Allah knows best where to place His message.”

And He says:

“Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among mankind.”

And He says:

“He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills.”