for the people of the right, while those brought near to Allah drink it pure.” This is indeed as they said. For the Most High says, “drink of it” (yashrabu bihā), not “drink from it” (yashrabu minhā), because He has given the word “drink” the additional sense of having one’s thirst quenched by it. A person may drink without having his thirst quenched. Thus, saying “they drink from it” does not indicate that their thirst is quenched, whereas “they drink of it” means that their thirst is quenched by it. Those brought near to Allah have their thirst quenched by it and therefore have no need of anything inferior to it alongside it. For this reason, they drink it pure, unlike the people of the right, for whom it is mixed with something else. This accords with what the Most High says in Sūrat al-Insān:

“Whose mixture is camphor—a spring from which the servants of Allah drink, making it flow abundantly.”

The servants of Allah are those brought near to Him who are mentioned in that surah. This is because recompense corresponds to deeds, whether good or evil. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever relieves a believer of one of the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for someone in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim’s faults, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the Hereafter. Allah continues to help His servant so long as the servant helps his brother. Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will thereby make easy for him a path to Paradise. Whenever people gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, tranquillity descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those who are with Him. Whoever is held back by his deeds will not be advanced by his lineage.”

Muslim narrated this in his Sahīh. And he said: