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Once it is established by revelation, reason and the agreement of the early generations that some parts of the Quran are superior to others, and likewise that some of His attributes are superior to others, it remains to discuss how “Say: He is Allah, the One” is equivalent to one-third of the Quran. What does this mean? Is the reward for reciting it equal to the reward for reciting one-third of the Quran? Assuming that it is, what purpose does reciting the rest of the Quran serve?

The answer is as follows:

Regarding the first question, several explanations have been offered. The best of them—and Allah knows best—is the answer transmitted from Imam Abū al-‘Abbās Ibn Surayj. Abū al-Walīd al-Qurashī reported that he asked Abū al-‘Abbās Ibn Surayj about the meaning of the Prophet’s statement, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“‘Say: He is Allah, the One’ is equivalent to one-third of the Quran.”

He replied: “It means that the Quran was revealed in three divisions: one-third consists of rulings, one-third of promises and warnings, and one-third of the divine names and attributes. This surah brings together the names and attributes.”

Abū al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzī mentioned three explanations of this hadith. He began with this explanation, transmitting Ibn Surayj’s statement through his chain of transmission from Zāhid, from al-Sābūnī and al-Bayhaqī, from al-Hākim Abū ‘Abd Allāh, the hadith master, who said: “I heard Abū al-Walīd