creation, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, because he spent his wealth in Allah’s cause, as when he purchased those who were being tortured.
The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had no personal need of either Abū Bakr or anyone else. Indeed, when Abū Bakr said to him during the journey of migration, “I have two riding camels; take one of them,” the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied, “For payment.”
He was thus the finest friend of the finest prophet. Part of his excellence was that he did whatever he did solely to seek the Face of his Lord Most High, seeking no recompense from any created being—neither angels, nor prophets, nor anyone else.
Asking to be prayed for is also a form of seeking recompense. Allah Most High said of those whom He praised:
“We feed you only to seek the Face of Allah; we desire from you neither recompense nor thanks.”
Supplication is a form of recompense, as stated in the hadith:
“Whoever does you a kindness, repay him. If you cannot find anything with which to repay him, then pray for him until you know that you have repaid him.”
Whenever ‘Ā’ishah sent charity to some people, she would tell the messenger: “Listen to the prayers they offer for us, so that we may offer the same prayers for them, and our reward may remain with Allah.”
One of the early generations said: “If a beggar says to you, ‘May Allah bless you,’ then say, ‘And may Allah bless you.’”
Whoever does good to created beings—whether the recipient is a prophet, a righteous man, a king, or a wealthy person—is commanded to do so sincerely for Allah, seeking His Face, without seeking any recompense, supplication, or anything else from a created being, whether a prophet, a righteous man, or an angel. Allah has commanded all His servants to worship Him, devoting their religion sincerely to Him. This is the religion of Islam with which Allah sent the earliest and the last of His messengers