Forgiveness means pardoning him. It is derived from the word mighfar, the helmet worn on a person’s head in battle to shield himself from arrows.

As for “have mercy on me,” it is a request for Allah’s mercy, through which what is sought is attained; whereas through forgiveness, what is feared is removed—when the two are mentioned together.

But when forgiveness is mentioned separately from mercy, each one encompasses the other. There are analogous cases in the Arabic language: when faqīr (the poor person) and miskīn (the destitute person) are mentioned together, each has a distinct meaning; but when either one is mentioned separately from the other, their meaning is the same. That is, when they occur together, their meanings differ; and when they occur separately, their meanings coincide.

As for his saying, “provide for me,” it is a request for provision: that which sustains the body and that which sustains one’s religion.

That is, Allah’s provision includes what sustains the body—food, drink, clothing, and housing—and what sustains one’s religion—knowledge, faith, and righteous deeds. A person should train himself to bring these great meanings to mind, so that he may leave having benefited.

Thus, when he says, “provide for me,” he means: Provide me with that by which the body is sustained and that by which my religion is sustained.

His saying, “grant me well-being,” means: Grant me well-being from every religious or physical illness. If he is afflicted with such an illness, then it is a supplication for its removal; and if he is not afflicted by it, then it is a supplication for its prevention, so that he will not be exposed to it in the future.

Thus, when a person asks for well-being in this place or elsewhere, he should