for it; hence they will not be given a pure draught. Instead, their cup will be blended with the drink of those who were brought near, in proportion to the mixture they made in this world.

[Among the prophets, some are servant-messengers and others are king-prophets]

A similar distinction can be observed among the prophets, peace be upon them: some were ʿabd-rasūl (servant-messengers) while others were nabī-malik (king-prophets). Allah, exalted is He, presented Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with the choice of being either a servant-messenger or a king-prophet, and he chose to be a servant-messenger. A king-prophet is exemplified by David, Solomon, and those like them, peace be upon them.

Concerning Solomon, Allah the Exalted says:

“My Lord, forgive me and grant me a dominion that shall not belong to anyone after me. Truly, You are the Giver of gifts.’ So We subjected to him the wind, blowing gently at his command wherever he wished, and the devils—every builder and diver—and others bound together in fetters. ‘This is Our gift, so give or withhold without account.’” (Quran 38:35-39)

That is, ‘Give to whomever you will and withhold from whomever you will; no reckoning will be made against you.’ A king-prophet therefore complies with what Allah has made obligatory, refrains from what Allah has forbidden, and otherwise disposes of authority and wealth as he loves and chooses, without incurring sin.

The servant-messenger, on the other hand, gives nothing except by the command of his Lord; he does not grant or withhold according to his own wish. Rather, he distributes only to those his Lord has commanded him to favor, and he appoints only those his Lord has commanded him to appoint. All his actions are acts of worship directed to Allah Most High.

As recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī from Abū Hurayrah—may Allah be pleased with him—the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “By Allah, I do not give anyone…"