and mercy. What we do not know is greater than what we know. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators, the Most Merciful of those who show mercy, the best of those who forgive, and Master of the Day of Judgment; the One, the Self-Sufficient upon whom all depend, who neither begets nor is begotten, and to whom none is equal. His servants cannot fully recount His praises; rather, He is as He has praised Himself. To Him belongs all praise in this world and the Hereafter. His is the judgment, and to Him you will be returned. For His own sake and for His kindness to His servants, He deserves their praise, love, and contentment with Him. Glorified and exalted is He! He deserves praise for His intrinsic praiseworthy qualities and for His kindness to His servants. The latter is praise in gratitude, while the former is praise without qualification.

Elsewhere, we have mentioned the view that everything Allah has created is a blessing for His believing servants, for which He deserves their praise and gratitude, and that it is among His favors. Thus, near the end of Surah al-Najm, He says:

“Then which of your Lord’s favors do you doubt?”

In Surah al-Rahmān, He mentions:

“Everyone on earth will perish,”

and similar statements, then says immediately afterward:

“Then which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny?”

Others, including al-Zajjāj and Abū al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzī, said concerning “Then which of your Lord’s favors will you both deny?” that this refers to the things mentioned. Through all of them He bestows blessings upon you: they point you to His oneness, and through them He provides you with what sustains you. They offered this explanation concerning Surah al-Rahmān.