wealth, influence, and a position of leadership that might tempt you to look down on people and soar above them as a bird soars through the sky—still, lower your wing, lower it until they are above you: “for those who follow you from among the believers” (Al-Shuʿarāʾ 26:215). Although this directive is addressed to the Messenger ﷺ, it applies to the whole community.

A person, then, must be gentle in dealing with his fellow believers. Moreover, whenever he meets someone who is more devoted to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he should lower his wing even further, for the follower of the Messenger ﷺ is entitled to our humility, honor, and esteem—not because he is so-and-so the son of so-and-so, but because he follows the Messenger ﷺ. Everyone who follows the Messenger ﷺ is dear to us: he is our brother, our friend, our companion. Conversely, whoever is distant from following the Messenger, we distance ourselves from him to the degree of his distance. Thus the believer should lower his wing for everyone who follows the Messenger ﷺ: “Lower your wing for those believers who follow you.”

Allah the Exalted also said to His Messenger: “And keep yourself patient with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring the adornment of worldly life” (Al-Kahf 18:28). “Keep yourself patient” means restrain yourself and remain with these distinguished, generous, noble people who call upon their Lord morning and evening—that is, at the start and close of each day—without ostentation or desire for reputation, but solely seeking His Face. They seek Allah’s Face in their supplications, their worship, their remembrance, and their glorification of Him.

“And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring the adornment of worldly life” (Al-Kahf 18:28): that is to say, do not