And if he recites, “Say, ‘Have you considered: if your water were to sink into the earth, then who could bring you flowing water?’” [Surah al-Mulk],

he should not say, “Allah will bring it,” because this comes in the context of threat and warning. Allah commanded the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to say to these deniers: “Have you considered: if your water were to sink into the earth, then who could bring you flowing water?” [Surah al-Mulk: 30]. We hear ordinary people saying, “Allah will bring it,” but this is not appropriate.

There are many verses of this kind, such as His saying in Surah al-Naml, “Is there a god besides Allah?” [Surah al-Nahl: 60]. Is it then correct for him to say, “No”?

The answer is: Yes, it is correct for him to say, “There is no god besides Allah.”

Chapter

The Essential Pillars of the Prayer

Its pillars: …

His statement, “Its pillars”: After the author, may Allah have mercy on him, finished describing the prayer in its complete form—explaining what is disliked in it, what is permissible, what is prohibited, and what is recommended in connection with it but outside it, such as the sutrah (prayer barrier) and similar matters—he then mentioned its essential pillars.

It is more appropriate for the student of knowledge to form a complete understanding of the prayer as a whole, so that he may distinguish what is an essential pillar, what is an obligation, and what is a sunnah.

The term “pillars” is the plural of “pillar.” Linguistically, a pillar is the strongest side of something. This is why we call a corner a pillar: it is the strongest part of a wall, because it is reinforced by the adjoining wall.

In technical usage, however, the pillars of an act of worship are the elements of which the act of worship is composed,