Fifth: reinforcing the verb by adding its verbal noun.
All of this added stress and attention (1) exists only because of the dire need for this tremendous matter, a matter that must be attended to and firmly implanted in the hearts of the servants by the most forceful means of affirmation.

The Exalted said, “The Prophet has a greater claim over the believers than they have over themselves” (2). This (3) proves that whoever does not grant the Messenger precedence over his own self is not counted among the believers. That precedence includes several things:

• First, that he be dearer to the servant than the servant’s own self; for precedence (4) is founded on love, and a person’s self is naturally dearer to him (5) than anyone else. Even so, the Messenger must enjoy a higher claim upon him than his own self and be dearer to him than his own self; only then does he earn the name “believer.”

• From that precedence and love inevitably flow complete submission, obedience, contentment, surrender, and every other entailment of love: being pleased with his judgment, yielding to his command, and preferring him over all others (7).

• Another implication is that the servant has no authority at all to rule over himself; rather, the ruling