, Aaron, my brother. Strengthen me through him, and let him share in my task, so that we may glorify You much and remember You much.” 1. Likewise, He reminded Jesus of His favour, saying: “And when I inspired the disciples to believe in Me and in My messenger, they said, ‘We believe, so bear witness that we are Muslims.’” 2.

He also reminded the best of creation of His favour, saying: “It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers.” 3 This is subtle kindness towards His servant through something beyond the servant’s own power. Another example is Allah’s subtle kindness towards those who guide others: He brings them people who follow their guidance and accept their counsel. Good deeds and rewards are thereby multiplied in ways that the servant cannot attain through his own actions alone, but which depend on something beyond himself.

Among the manifestations of Allah’s subtle kindness towards His servant is that He grants him children, wealth, and spouses who bring him delight and happiness in this world. Then He tries him by taking some of these away, compensating him with an immense reward if he is patient and seeks His reward. Allah’s blessing upon him in taking them away in this manner is greater than His blessing in granting them and merely satisfying his worldly desires through them. This, too, is goodness and reward beyond what the servant can attain on his own. Rather, it is Allah’s subtle kindness towards him: He brings about circumstances for which He grants him abundant recompense and a beautiful reward.

Among the manifestations of Allah’s subtle kindness towards His servant is that He afflicts him with certain calamities, then enables him to fulfil the duty of patience through them, thereby granting him lofty ranks that he could not attain through his deeds alone. He may intensify the trial, as He did with Job—peace be upon him—while placing in his heart the sweet solace of hope and anticipation of mercy and relief from affliction. Thus his pain is eased and his spirit reinvigorated. Hence, part of Allah’s subtle kindness towards the believers is that He places in their hearts the desire for His reward, so their calamities become lighter and the hardships they encounter in seeking His pleasure become easier to bear.

Among the manifestations of Allah’s subtle kindness towards His weak believing servant is that He spares him the causes of trials that