No Distinctions and Ranks - A Contradiction?

[Reader Questions]

Peace be upon you brother Joseph

Please can you assist me with this seeming contradiction where the Qur'an says that the prophets are all the same and no distinction is to be made between them but in other parts, some are described as excelling others?

Best wishes and Peace

[Joseph Islam]

May peace be with you.

There is a difference between God informing humans not to make distinctions (yufarriqu) between His messengers (2:285) and God explaining that ultimately, the ranks are with him (darajat - 2:253)  i.e. Leave the matter with God and don't get into drawing comparisons / distinctions.

He is the one that bestows different gifts to different messengers and with Him is knowledge as to who attain different ranks. It is not for humans to make distinctions or judgements on the matter.

These statements are not contradictory.

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.


REFERENCE:

[1] DO NOT MAKE ANY DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE MESSENGERS OF GOD
http://quransmessage.com/articles/do%20not%20make%20distinctions%20between%20messengers%20FM3.htm