When the servant knows that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing, and All-Knowing; that not even an atom’s weight in the heavens or earth is hidden from Him; that He knows what is secret and what is yet more hidden, knows the furtive glances of the eyes and what hearts conceal; and that He, Mighty and Majestic, encompasses all things in knowledge and has counted everything precisely—whoever keeps himself mindful that Allah observes him, sees him, and encompasses him will thereby be led to restrain his tongue, limbs, and passing thoughts from everything displeasing to Allah, and to direct these faculties toward what Allah loves and approves.

Allah Most High says: “Does he not know that Allah sees?” 1; He also says: “Surely your Lord is ever watchful” 2; He also says: “Fear Allah; surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing” 3; He also says: “Do as you will; He surely sees all that you do” 4; and He also says: “Know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him” 5. There is no doubt that this knowledge instills in the servant fear of Allah, awareness that He is watching him, devotion to obeying Him, and avoidance of what He has forbidden.

Ibn Rajab said: “A man tried to seduce a woman in a deserted place at night, but she refused. He said to her, ‘Only the stars can see us.’ She replied, ‘Then where is the One who made the stars?’” 6. That is: “Where is Allah? Does He not see us?” Her knowledge of this prevented her from committing that sin and falling into that transgression.

When the servant knows that Allah is Self-Sufficient, Generous, Kind, Merciful, and boundless in beneficence, and that He, Mighty and Majestic, though utterly independent of His servants, does good to them, has mercy upon them, and wills