that good deed is not equal in value to the good deed of one of the earliest Companions who gave a mudd. There are many similar examples. Likewise, the letters of the Quran differ in merit because their meanings differ in excellence, and for other reasons. For each letter of al-Fātihah, the reciter earns a good deed greater than those earned for letters of “May the hands of Abū Lahab perish.”

When one thing is equivalent to another, its ʿadl—with the vowel a—is its equal, even if it is of a different kind. As Allah, Most High, says:

“Or the equivalent of that in fasting.”

Fasting is not of the same kind as food or the compensatory offering, but it is equivalent to them in measure. Likewise, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah will accept from him neither sarf nor ʿadl.”

And Allah, Most High, says:

“Nor will any ransom be accepted from it.”

Here, ʿadl means a ransom: something equivalent to what is being redeemed, even if it is of a different kind.

“Yet those who disbelieve set up equals to their Lord.”

That is, they assign Him an equal—a rival in divinity—even though they know that it is not of the same kind as the Lord, glory be to Him.

If one man possessed various kinds of wealth, and another possessed gold of the same value, the wealth of the one would be equivalent to that of the other, even though they were of different kinds. Thus, a man may possess gold and other assets of immense value, yet if he needs medicine, a compound preparation, a dwelling, or something similar, and is unable to purchase it, that immense wealth will not benefit him.

People need the commands, prohibitions, and narratives contained in the Quran, even though the affirmation of Allah’s oneness is greater than these. If a person needs to know which actions He has commanded and which He has forbidden, or