2000 — Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān informed us; he said: Yaḥyā ibn Muḥammad ibn Ṣāʿid narrated to us; he said: al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Ḥasan narrated to us; he said: al-Haytham ibn Jamīl narrated to us; he said: Abū Hilāl al-Rāsibī narrated to us, from Muʿāwiya ibn Qurra, who said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Masʿūd declared:

“A verse in the Book of Allah, in Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, is better for the Muslims than the whole world and everything in it. It is His saying: ‘If you avoid the major sins that you have been forbidden, We will blot out your minor misdeeds and admit you to an honorable abode’ (al-Nisāʾ 31). And His saying ⦗1144⦘: ‘Allah does not forgive that partners be ascribed to Him, but He forgives whatever is less than that for whomever He wills’ (al-Nisāʾ 48). And His saying: ‘If, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and asked Allah’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had prayed for their forgiveness, they would have found Allah Ever-Relenting, Merciful’ (al-Nisāʾ 64). And His saying: ‘Whoever does evil, or wrongs himself, then seeks Allah’s forgiveness will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful’ (al-Nisāʾ 110).”

Al-Ḥusayn added, “And I say that a fifth verse, also in Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, is better for the Muslims than the world and all it contains: ‘What would Allah gain by punishing you if you give thanks and believe? Allah is Appreciative, All-Knowing’ (al-Nisāʾ 147).”