Thus, this man too was prompted by his fear of punishment in the Hereafter and his desire for a safe final outcome to ask that it be hastened for him in this world. Yet he was mistaken and in error. Errors and mistakes are exceedingly common even alongside good, sound intentions and a person’s righteousness, virtue, religious devotion, asceticism, scrupulousness, and the miracles granted to him. Being a friend of Allah does not require being protected from errors and mistakes, or even from sins.

The best of Allah’s friends after the Messengers is Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him. It is established in an authentic report that, when he interpreted a dream, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to him, “You were right in some respects and wrong in others.”

It seems—and Allah knows best—that when Abū Sulaymān said, “If He cast me into the Fire, I would be content with that,” some people may have reported his statement according to what