are the best of them in Islam, once they acquire understanding.” Agreed upon. The verb faquhū is normally read with a ḍamma on the qāf, though a reading with a kasra is also cited; it means “when they come to know the rulings of the Sacred Law.”

Explanation: His statement “Who are the most honorable of people?” He answered, “Those who are most God-fearing,” meaning that the most honorable people are those who fear Allah. This reply corresponds exactly to the Almighty’s words: “Indeed, the most honorable of you in Allah’s sight are those who are most God-fearing” (al-Ḥujurāt 13). Allah—glorified and exalted—does not look at people with respect to lineage, social rank, wealth, or beauty; rather, He looks at their deeds. Therefore, the most honored of people with Him are those who posses the greatest taqwā. Because of this, He endows the people of taqwā with both manifest and hidden honors, for they are the most honored of His creation. In this is an exhortation to fear Allah: the more God-fearing a person is, the more honored he is before Him.

Yet the Companions were not asking about who is most honored in Allah’s sight. They said, “We are not asking about that.” He then informed them that the most honored of humankind is Joseph, the prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah, son of a prophet of Allah, son of Allah’s Close Friend—that is, Joseph son of Jacob son of Isaac son of Abraham, upon them all be peace. He was a prophet descended from prophets, and thus one of the most honored of creation.