and—whether willingly or unwillingly—are surrendered to Him. When a servant witnesses this, submits to Him and humbles himself, he has acknowledged His Lordship; seeing his own need and poverty before Him, he turns into one who asks of Him, relies upon Him, and seeks His help—whether by the state of his heart or by the words of his tongue—in contrast to the arrogant one who refuses to ask.

Categories of a servant’s requests from his Lord

The servant who depends on Him and petitions Him will ask for one of three things: (1) something he has been commanded to seek, (2) something he has been forbidden to seek, or (3) something that is merely permissible. The first is the station of the blessed believers whose constant plea is: “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help” [1:5]. The second is the station of the disbelievers, the defiantly sinful, and the brazen transgressors who nevertheless possess some faith in Him, as He said: “Most of them do not believe in Allah except that they associate partners with Him” [12:106]. Thus, they affirm His Lordship yet commit shirk in worship.

The Prophet ﷺ said to Ḥuṣayn al-Khuzaʿī: “O Ḥuṣayn, how many deities do you worship?” He replied, “Seven gods—six on earth and one in the heaven.” The Prophet asked, “When you seek benefit or fear harm, which of them do you invoke?” He answered, “The one who is in the heaven.” The Prophet said, “Embrace Islam so that I may teach you a word by which Allah will benefit you.” Ḥuṣayn then accepted Islam, and the Prophet taught him to say: “O Allah, inspire me with right guidance and protect me from the evil of my own self.” Reported by Aḥmad and others.