and benevolence.

“Allah is Most Subtle towards His servants; He provides for whom He wills. And He is the All-Powerful, the Almighty.” 1

“If Allah were to grant abundant provision to His servants, they would transgress throughout the earth. But He sends down whatever He wills in due measure. Indeed, He is All-Aware and All-Seeing of His servants.” 2

Among the manifestations of His subtle kindness towards them is that He decrees various calamities and trials for them, testing them with demanding commands and prohibitions, out of mercy and subtle kindness towards them, guiding them towards their perfection and the perfection of their bliss.

“Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you, and perhaps you love something which is bad for you. Allah knows, while you do not know.” 3

Among the delicate manifestations of His subtle kindness towards His servant, when He prepares him for lofty ranks and exalted stations—which cannot be attained through the great undertakings accessible only to those of high aspirations and noble resolve—is that He initially decrees for him manageable means suited to the undertakings for which He has prepared him. Thus he advances gradually from the lower to the higher, training himself until he acquires an aptitude for that kind of endeavour. This is how He decreed that Moses, Muhammad, and other prophets—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon them—should tend sheep early in their lives, so that they would progress from tending animals and caring for their welfare to tending humankind, calling them to Allah and setting their affairs right. Likewise, He lets His servant taste the sweetness of certain acts of obedience, drawing him towards them and awakening his desire for them. He subsequently develops a strong aptitude for acts of obedience greater and higher than these. Such acts would not have been achieved through his earlier resolve; he first had to reach this fuller resolve and desire.

Among the manifestations of His subtle kindness towards His servant is that He decrees that he should be raised under the guardianship of people of righteousness, knowledge, and faith, and among people of goodness, so that he may learn from their manners and discipline, growing up nurtured by their righteousness and their efforts to cultivate it in others. Thus Allah mentioned His favour to Mary when He, Most High, said:

“So her Lord accepted her graciously