the treasures of Paradise? You say, ‘There is no might or power except through Allah,’ whereupon Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says, ‘My servant has submitted and surrendered.’”1

It is thus a declaration of submission and surrender, of entrusting one’s affairs to Allah and disclaiming all might and power except through Him. It affirms that the servant has no control whatsoever over his own affairs: he has no means of warding off harm and no power to secure any good except by the will of Allah Most High. A servant cannot pass from disobedience to obedience, from sickness to health, from weakness to strength, or from deficiency to perfection and increase except through Allah. Nor does he have the power to carry out any of his affairs, achieve any objective, or attain any goal except through Allah Almighty.

Whatever Allah wills comes to pass, and whatever He does not will shall never be. The reins of all affairs are in His hand—glory be to Him—and the affairs of all creatures are bound to His decree and predestination. He directs them however He wills and decrees concerning them whatever He desires. None can repel His decree, and none can overturn His judgment. Whatever He wills comes to pass exactly as He wills, at the time He wills, and in the manner He wills, without addition or diminution and without being brought forward or delayed. Creation and command belong to Him; sovereignty and praise belong to Him; this world and the Hereafter belong to Him; all blessings and bounty are His; and to Him belongs the finest praise. His power encompasses all things:

“His command, when He wills something, is only to say to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” 2,

“Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter.” 3,

Since such are His attributes, one is duty-bound to submit to His divinity and surrender to His greatness,