How is it that the prophets are the most severely tested of people—as stated in the noble Hadith: "The most severely tested of people are the prophets, then the righteous, then the next best"—when there were Companions like Ammar ibn Yasir and Bilal ibn Rabah who endured severe torture that some prophets did not experience?

The hadith is authentic, and trials can involve evil, good, and well-being. There is good in it for the patient and grateful believer, and Allah tests His servants with wisdom. Prophets and righteous individuals are tested with severe trials, like our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, who suffered from fever as intensely as two men. Some prophets died of hunger, and some righteous individuals were afflicted with poverty and lice. Some prophets, caliphs, and righteous people were killed. These trials raise their ranks, for trials are for the prophets, then for those who are most like them, and so on.