the differences in rank among His prophets, peace be upon them, just as among the rest of His believing servants. He, Most High, said:

“Those messengers—We favoured some over others. Among them were those to whom Allah spoke, and He raised some in rank. We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.”

He, Most High, also said:

“We certainly favoured some prophets over others, and We gave David the Psalms.”

In Sahīh Muslim, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Strive for what benefits you, seek Allah’s help, and do not lose resolve. If something befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such and such, this and that would have happened.’ Rather, say, ‘Allah has decreed, and He does whatever He wills,’ for ‘if only’ opens the way for Satan’s work.”

In the two Sahīh collections, Abū Hurayrah and ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀs, may Allah be pleased with them both, relate that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When a judge exercises his judgment and reaches the correct decision, he receives two rewards; when he exercises his judgment but errs, he receives one reward.”

Allah Most High has said:

“Those among you who spent and fought before the conquest are not equal to the others. They are greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards. Yet Allah has promised them all the finest reward.”

He, Most High, also said:

“Those believers who remain behind, other than those with disabilities, are not equal to those who strive in Allah’s cause with their wealth and their lives. Allah has favoured those who strive with their wealth and their lives over those who remain behind by a rank. To each Allah has promised the finest reward, but Allah has favoured those who strive over those who remain behind with a tremendous reward—ranks from Him, forgiveness, and mercy. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”