with its emphatic cognate noun, mentioning it twice to drive the lesson home. What He is calling for is humble submission to Him, a willing, contented compliance with whatever He decrees—surrender, not through coercion and forced patience, as a vanquished man yields to the one who overpowered him against his will, but rather the surrender of a loving (1) servant who obeys his Master and Lord, the dearest being to him. Such a servant knows that his happiness and success lie in handing himself over to Him; he also knows (2) that his Lord has a greater claim over him than he has over himself, is kinder to him than he is to himself, more merciful to him, more sincere in advising him, more aware of his true interests, and more capable of securing them (3).

Whenever the servant comes to realize this about the Messenger ﷺ, he submits to him, surrenders himself to him, and every particle of his heart (4) follows suit, seeing that his only path to felicity is through such submission and compliance.

This is not something that can be attained merely by wording it; rather, it is a reality that splits the heart open and settles in its very core. No expression can encompass it, and it cannot be won through empty claims and wishful thinking.

“All profess their union with Layla,
Yet Layla herself grants none their claim.” (6)