and a “special” category, comprising those who are foremost, although those who are foremost—such as the prophets and the utterly truthful—are higher in rank.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, mentioned these “two categories” in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhārī in his Sahīh from Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, who said:

“Allah says: ‘Whoever shows enmity towards a friend of Mine has openly challenged Me to war. My servant draws near to Me through nothing like fulfilling what I have made obligatory upon him. My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary deeds until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. Through Me he hears, through Me he sees, through Me he grasps, and through Me he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him, and if he seeks My protection, I will surely protect him. I have never hesitated over anything I am to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress, yet he must undergo it.’”

As for a believer who wrongs himself, he has a share of friendship with Allah commensurate with his faith and mindfulness of Him, just as he has a share of its opposite commensurate with his wickedness. A single person may combine good deeds that merit reward with evil deeds that merit punishment, so that he may be both rewarded and punished. This is the position of all the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, the leading scholars of Islam, and the adherents of the Sunnah and the community, who affirm that no one with an atom’s weight of faith in his heart will remain in the Fire forever.