The first rank, then, is to worship Allah out of earnest seeking, love, and longing.
The second is to worship Him while fleeing from His displeasure, out of fear and awe.

As for excellence toward Allah’s servants, it is to treat them with what is best—in speech, in deeds, in giving, in withholding harm, and the like. Even in the very greeting you should choose the better form. Allah the Exalted says, “When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it, or at least return it” (4:86). That is, if you will not surpass it, then at the very least match it. Hence many scholars have said: if a Muslim says to you, “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah,” you should reply, “And upon you be peace and the mercy of Allah.” That is the minimum. If you add “and His blessings,” that is superior, for Allah began with “better than it” before saying “or return it.”

Likewise, if someone greets you in a clear, audible voice, you must answer him in a voice that is equally clear and audible—at the very least. Many people, or at least some, when you give them the greeting, answer through their noses, so softly that you can scarcely hear them. This is a mistake, because it contradicts the manner in which you greeted them. You greet with a clear voice, yet they respond nasally—contrary to what Allah has commanded.

Excellence also lies in action: helping people and assisting them in their affairs. When you help someone, you have shown him excellence—whether through money, charity, a gift, a grant, or the like; all of this is excellence.

Another form of excellence is that when you see your brother committing a sin, you clarify the matter to him and stop him from it, for this is one of the greatest acts of kindness toward him. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Support your brother, whether he is an oppressor or the one being oppressed.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, as for the one who is oppressed…”