the Quran but not the memorization of the wording in which knowledge is expressed. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in the hadith recorded by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim:

“The believer who recites the Quran is like a citron: its taste is pleasant and its fragrance is pleasant. The believer who does not recite the Quran is like a date: its taste is pleasant, but it has no fragrance. The hypocrite who recites the Quran is like sweet basil: its fragrance is pleasant, but its taste is bitter. The hypocrite who does not recite the Quran is like a colocynth: its taste is bitter, and it has no fragrance.”

A man may have memorized the Quran’s wording and surahs without being a believer; indeed, he may be a hypocrite. A believer who has not memorized its wording and surahs is therefore better than him, even if others benefit from that hypocrite just as they benefit from sweet basil. As for someone who has been granted both knowledge and faith, he is a knowledgeable believer and is therefore superior to a believer who does not match him in knowledge, although they share in faith. This is a principle that must be understood.

There is “another principle” here: not every deed that produces unveilings or an ability to exercise influence over the created world is superior to a deed that produces neither. Unless such unveilings and influence serve as a means of supporting Allah’s religion, they are merely part of the enjoyment of this worldly life. Such things may be attained by unbelievers among the polytheists and the People of the Book, even when they are not attained by the people of faith, who are the people of Paradise, whereas those others are the people of the Fire.