by Imam Ibn Taymiyyah
"Then We gave the Book for inheritance to such of our servants as We chose. But there are among them those who wrong themselves (al-Dhaalim li Nafsi-hee), and those who are average in doing their duties (al-Muqtasid) and some who are by Allaah's leave the foremost (al-Saabiq) in good deeds." [al-Faatir (The Originator of Creation) 35, verse 32]
We know that al-dhaalim li nafsi-hi refers to those who neglect their obligatory duties and commit what has been forbidden. Similarly, the muqtasid means those who perform their duties and abstain from the forbidden; and the saabiq means those who go beyond others in seeking the pleasure of Allaah by doing superogatory things over and above the obligatory. Hence, the muqtasid are the people of the right hand and the saabiq are the most near and dear to Allah.
[This is a reference to the Qur'aanic verses, 56:8, 10. "So those of the Right Hand (i.e. those who will be given their Records in their right hands), - Who will be those on the Right Hand? (As a espect for them, because they will enter Paradise)." 56:8"And those Foremost [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing religious deeds of obedience to Allah and His Messanger Muhammad /sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam/) in the life of this world on the very first call to embrace Islam,] will be foremost (in Paradise)." 56:10]
The Salaf (the early Muslims, of the first three generations: the Companions of the Nabi sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, their successors, and their successors) have explained these points with refence to one or the other act of obedience to Allah. One has said: "The saabiq is the one who offers prayers at the earliest time; the muqtasid is the one who offers them late, but in time; and the dhaalim is the one who defers, for instance, the evening prayer till the sun turns pale." Another has said that Allah has described all the categories of men: the saabiq, the muqtasid and the dhaalim li nafsi-hi towards the end of the Soorah Baqarah where he has mentioned the muhsin or the generous (who) spend money in charity; the 'Aadil or the just who trade; and the zalim or the unjust who charge interest. People are either generous in matters of money, unjust or just. The saabiq are the generous ones who give money in charity over and above meeting their obligations, the dhaalim are those who take interest or fail to pay zakah and the muqtasid are those who pay zakah as well as refrain from taking interest, and so on.
