Section
Since the “friends of Allah, Mighty and Majestic,” are the pious believers, and people differ in their faith and piety, their friendship with Allah varies accordingly. Likewise, since they differ in disbelief and hypocrisy, their enmity towards Allah varies accordingly.
The foundation of faith and piety is belief in Allah’s messengers. This is encompassed in belief in the Seal of the Messengers, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for belief in him entails belief in all of Allah’s Books and messengers. The foundation of disbelief and hypocrisy is rejection of the messengers and what they brought. This is the disbelief for which a person deserves punishment in the Hereafter, for Allah Most High has stated in His Book that He does not punish anyone until the message has reached them.
Allah Most High said:
“And We would never punish until We had sent a messenger.”
And He Most High said:
“Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Tribes, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon, and We gave David the Psalms.”
“And We sent messengers whose stories We have related to you before, and messengers whose stories We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses directly.”