his religious and worldly affairs. He also needs to understand the conditions, matters, and means that will carry him to his goal and enable him to attain what he seeks. Among the strongest and most beneficial of those means is beneficial knowledge, for it is the straight path to the blessings of this world and the Hereafter.

6 – His words, “Seek help from Allah”:
Ibn al-Qayyim said in Madarij al-Salikin: isti‘ana (seeking help) is to ask Allah, Exalted is He, for assistance. When a servant commits himself to his Lord’s worship, Allah supports him in it, and that commitment becomes a means of attaining faith. The more complete a servant’s worship, the greater the divine aid he receives. The most beneficial supplication is to ask Allah for help in earning His good pleasure, and the finest gift is His granting of that request. All the transmitted supplications revolve around this aim, around repelling what opposes it, and around perfecting it and easing its causes.

Shaykh al-Islam said: “I reflected on the most helpful supplication and found it to be the plea for assistance in what pleases Him. I then saw it embedded in the Fatiha: ‘It is You we worship and You we seek for help’ (1:5). Yet while the servant seeks his Lord’s help, he still needs to employ the useful means and follow the paths that lead to the goal.”

Someone remarked: “The outcome and success of every deed a person performs depend on the causes that, according to divine wisdom, are appointed to produce it. Allah has enabled humanity, through the knowledge and assistance He has granted, to remove certain obstacles, acquire some of the causes, while withholding others. Therefore, we must do whatever lies within our power and strive to perfect our work with all the strength and ability we possess.

As for what lies beyond our capacity, we consign it to the One who is capable of all things. We turn to Him alone and ask Him for the assistance that completes the deed and brings forth its fruit.”