What is the wisdom behind honoring the children of Adam above all other creatures? Is this honor above all creatures or most of them? And who are those who are more honored than the children of Adam?

Ibn al-Qayyim explained that the reason for Allah's honoring of the Children of Adam is His choosing them for Himself, as He created them for Himself and created everything for their sake. He cited as evidence Allah's saying: "Have you not seen that Allah has subjected to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and has bestowed upon you His favors, both apparent and hidden?" [Luqman: 20] and His saying: "And We have certainly honored the Children of Adam…" [Al-Isra: 70]. He also cited sacred hadiths (Hadith Qudsi), among them: "Son of Adam, I created you for Myself, and I created everything for you…"

Ibn Taymiyyah pointed out that Allah's wisdom in choosing Adam is "the perfection of His knowledge, power, mercy, and wisdom." As for preferring them over some but not all, the verse restricted it: "and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference." [Al-Isra: 70] Ibn Ashour stated that this implies the existence of creatures over whom the Children of Adam were not preferred.