between what is lawful and what is unlawful; the endpoint of a thing may at times fall within it, so it is counted as part of it, while at other times it lies outside it and therefore carries the opposite ruling (1). In view of the first situation He forbade overstepping those limits, and in view of the second He forbade even approaching them (2).

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This, then, is the servant’s duty in relation to other people: his interaction with them must be a form of mutual assistance in righteousness and God-consciousness, both in knowledge and in practice.

As for his state in relation to Allah, it is to give precedence to obeying Him and to refrain from disobeying Him; this is the purport of His words: “and be mindful of Allah.”

Thus the verse indicates the servant’s obligation toward the creation and his obligation (3) toward the Creator.

The first obligation is not fulfilled (4) unless he removes his own self from the middle and performs it purely out of sincere counsel, beneficence, and respect for the command.

Nor can he discharge the second obligation unless he removes the creation from between himself and his Lord, carrying it out for Allah (5) alone, in sincerity, love, and servitude.