his faith and piety, he is one of the friends of Allah Most High. His share of friendship with Allah is commensurate with his faith and piety. As for matters concerning which proof has not been established against him, Allah Most High has not required him to know them or believe in them in detail, so He will not punish him for failing to do so. Nevertheless, he misses out on the fullness of friendship with Allah in proportion to what he has missed of those matters. Thus, someone who knows what the messengers brought, believes in it in detail, and acts upon it is more complete in faith and friendship with Allah than someone who neither knows it in detail nor acts upon it. Yet both are friends of Allah Most High.

Paradise has ranks that differ immensely, and Allah’s believing, pious friends occupy those ranks according to their faith and piety.

He, Blessed and Most High, said:

“Whoever desires this fleeting life, We hasten therein whatever We will for whomever We choose. Then We have appointed Hell for him, which he will enter, condemned and banished.”

“But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he should, while being a believer—it is they whose striving will be appreciated.”

“To each We extend the gifts of your Lord—to these and to those. The gifts of your Lord are not withheld.”

“See how We have favoured some over others. But the Hereafter is greater in ranks and greater in distinction.”

Allah, Glorified and Most High, thus explains that He extends His gifts both to those who desire this world and to those who desire the Hereafter, and that His gifts are withheld from neither the righteous nor the wicked. Then He, Most High, said:

“See how We have favoured some over others. But the Hereafter is greater in ranks and greater in distinction.”

Allah, Glorified be He, thus explains that the differences in rank among the people of the Hereafter are greater than those among people in this world, and that its ranks are greater than the ranks of this world. He has also made clear