in religion and worldly life; He is the Bringer of Harm to those who pursue the means that bring it upon them1.

All these matters accord with His justice, wisdom, and praiseworthiness. He acts with wisdom in abasing, humiliating, and depriving whomever He wills, and no one has any argument against Allah. Likewise, His subtle bounty extends to those whom He raises, gives to, and showers with good things.

The servant must therefore acknowledge Allah’s wisdom, just as he must acknowledge His bounty and thank Him with his tongue, heart, and limbs.

Just as He alone governs all these matters, which unfold under His decrees, Allah has appointed means by which people are raised, granted gifts, and honored, and means that lead to the opposite. Whoever pursues these means will experience their consequences. Everyone is enabled to do that for which he was created: those destined for bliss are enabled to perform the deeds of the people of bliss, while those destined for misery are enabled to perform the deeds of the people of misery. This requires the servant to affirm Allah’s oneness, rely on his Lord to attain what he loves, and strive to pursue beneficial means, for it is in these that Allah’s wisdom is manifested.”2.