it is authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Allah has taken me as an intimate friend, just as He took Abraham as an intimate friend.”

He also said in an authentic hadith:

“By Allah, I do not give to anyone or withhold from anyone; I am only a distributor, allocating as I am commanded.”

He mentioned that his Lord gave him the choice between being a prophet-king and being a servant-messenger, and he chose to be a servant-messenger. A “prophet-king” is like David and Solomon. Allah Most High said:

“This is Our gift, so give or withhold, without account.”

They explained its meaning as follows: “Give to whomever you wish and withhold from whomever you wish; We will not call you to account.” Thus, a “prophet-king” gives according to his own will and is not punished for doing so, just as someone freely chooses to do permissible things. The “servant-messenger,” however, neither gives nor withholds except by his Lord’s command—that is, in accordance with His love, His pleasure, and His prescriptive will. Those who are foremost and brought near to Allah are followers of the servant-messenger, while those who take a middle course, the people of the right, are followers of the prophet-king.

A person may also be in a state devoid of either kind of intention: he has no intention concerning giving or withholding—neither a religious intention that he is commanded to have, nor a personal desire, whether forbidden or not. Rather, whatever happens is what he wills, and whatever is done to him is what he wills, without his doing what religious law commands in that situation.