beyond doubt.

If it is said, “The same consequence follows for what He deferred and did not reveal, since it has a replacement, yet there is no appointed time for that replacement to be revealed,” the answer is: What He has deferred revealing, while intending to reveal it, is known, and a replacement like it or better is provided at every stage, for the Quran continued to be revealed. This implies that whatever He deferred revealing must be preceded by the revelation of something like it or better. This is indeed what occurred. Much of the Quran that was revealed earlier and was not abrogated is better than what was revealed later. The Meccan verses, for example, explain Allah’s oneness, prophethood, the Resurrection, and the foundations of the revealed laws—matters superior to the detailed rulings concerning usury, marriage, divorce, and other such matters.

Thus, before revealing what He deferred—such as the verse on usury, which was among the last Quranic passages revealed and has been reported to be the very last, and likewise the verses concerning debt, waiting periods, menstruation, and similar matters—Allah had already revealed something better: verses containing more important rulings and more important foundations.

For this reason, Sūrat al-An‘ām is superior to other surahs, as are Sūrat Yā Sīn and similar surahs containing the foundations of religion upon which all the Messengers agreed—may Allah’s blessings be upon them all. This is also why the surah “Say, ‘He is Allah, One’,” despite its few letters, is equivalent to one-third of the Quran: it contains the affirmation of Allah’s oneness. It is thus clear that the verses concerning Allah’s oneness are superior to others. The Opening of the Book was undoubtedly revealed in Mecca, as indicated by His words