then, alongside this humble entreaty to Allah, he strives to show gratitude for Allah’s blessings upon him and his parents by acknowledging them, praising and extolling Him for them, and using them to assist him in obeying Him. He also endeavors to learn which righteous deeds please Allah and to perform them, and strives to give his offspring a sound religious upbringing. The same applies to all supplications: they plainly express reliance upon Allah, humble entreaty to Him, and recourse to Him for the attainment of various aims; they also plainly require earnest effort to employ every means by which the desired end may be attained. Allah Most High has appointed means through which every objective may be attained and has commanded that they be taken while relying firmly upon Him. Supplication expresses the strength of one’s reliance upon Allah, and for this reason it is the spirit and very marrow of worship. If the servant asks his Lord to cause him to die as a Muslim and among the righteous, he is asking for a good end. This requires taking—and being granted success in taking—the means by which one may die upon Islam. Thus Allah Most High says, “And do not die except as Muslims.” 1, This is accomplished by taking the means and relying upon the One who brings them about.” 2, He is Allah alone, in whose hand lie the reins of all affairs.