is in need of securing what benefits it and warding off what harms it. It therefore must have two things:

The first is the desired and beloved object from which it derives benefit and pleasure.

The second is the helper who enables it to attain that objective, prevents the occurrence of what is disliked, and repels it after it has occurred.

Thus, there are four things that a human being needs:

The first is something beloved and desired, whose existence is sought.

The second is something disliked and detested, whose absence is sought.

The third is the means of attaining what is beloved.

The fourth is the means of warding off what is disliked.

These four things are indispensable to the servant—and indeed to every living being—whose existence cannot be sustained and whose well-being cannot be secured without them.

Once this is understood, Allah—Glorified is He—is alone the One sought, worshipped, and loved, without partner. He alone assists the servant in attaining what he seeks. Thus, none is worthy of worship but Him, and none besides Him can assist in attaining what is sought. He—Glorified is He—alone combines the four preceding matters, to the exclusion of all others. This is the meaning of the servant’s words: “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.” Worship comprises the objective sought in the most perfect manner, while the One whose help is sought is He whose aid is invoked to attain what is desired and ward off what is disliked. In the Noble Quran, there are seven passages that bring these two principles together: