of justice; for when (1) they earn sins that necessitate punishment, every doer is held in pledge for what he himself has earned, and nothing of it (2) attaches to anyone else.

Thus the attachment in question applies only to grace and reward, not to justice and punishment. Matters such as this—and others like it (3)—are among the Quran’s secrets and treasures, the understanding of which Allah reserves (4) for whomever He wills.

These verses, then, encompass every class of created beings, both the fortunate and the wretched: the blessed leaders (5) and their followers, and the miserable leaders (6) and their followers.

Accordingly, the intelligent person who truly wishes well for himself must examine which of these groups he belongs to, and must not be deceived by habit and drift into idleness.

If he is among the fortunate, let him rise (7) to an even higher level and exert his utmost; Allah is the Patron of success and attainment.

And if he is among the wretched, let him move to the company of the fortunate while the opportunity remains, before he must say, “Alas, would that I had taken a path alongside the Messenger!” (25:27) (8).