And “the point here” is that a servant who is a messenger is superior to a prophet who is a king, just as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad—blessings and peace be upon them—are superior to Joseph, David, and Solomon—peace be upon them. Likewise, those who are foremost and brought near to Allah are superior to the righteous companions of the right who are not among those foremost and brought near. Whoever fulfils what Allah has made obligatory upon him and does whatever he likes among permissible things belongs to the latter group. Whoever does only what Allah loves and is pleased with, intending to use what has been made permissible to him to help him fulfil Allah’s commands, belongs to the former group.

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Allah Most High mentions “His friends”—those who follow a moderate course and those who are foremost—in Surah Fātir, saying:

“Then We caused those whom We chose from among Our servants to inherit the Book. Among them are those who wrong themselves, those who follow a moderate course, and those who are foremost in good deeds by Allah’s permission. That is the great bounty.”

“Gardens of perpetual residence which they will enter, adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls, and their garments therein will be silk.”

“And they will say, ‘Praise be to Allah, who has removed all sorrow from us. Indeed, our Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative.’”

“‘He who, out of His bounty, has settled us in the everlasting abode, where neither toil nor weariness touches us.’”

However, the three categories mentioned in this verse refer specifically to the nation of Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, as Allah Most High says: “Then