ever. Whenever any one of these three is weakened in the heart, its faith is weakened to the same degree. Reflect, then, on the Quran’s profound wisdom in coupling fear with remembrance and privacy with supplication.

... He mentions eager expectation—which is hope—in the verse concerning supplication because supplication is founded upon it. Unless the supplicant hopes to obtain what he asks for and seeks, his soul will not be stirred to pursue it, for it is impossible to seek what one has no hope of attaining.

He mentions fear in the verse concerning remembrance because of the fearful person’s profound need for remembrance. Thus, in each verse He mentions whichever of fear and hope is most appropriate to it. Blessed is He who sent down His Speech as a healing for what lies within hearts.” 1. Here end his words—may Allah have mercy on him.

If raising one’s voice in supplication, even when done by an individual, entails the loss of the aforementioned benefits and advantages, there can be no doubt that doing so as a group and in unison entails their loss to an even greater degree. The early Muslims—may Allah be pleased with them—regarded this as a form of introducing innovation into the religion and departing from the path of the master of the messengers.

It is related that Mujālid ibn Masūd al-Sulamī—may Allah be pleased with him—heard some people raising their voices in supplication. He went over to them and said, “O people! Either you have attained a virtue beyond those who came before you, or you are surely doomed.” They then began slipping away one by one until they had vacated the spot where they had been.” 2.

Allah alone is the One whose help is sought, and He alone grants success and sound judgment.