Thus these paths—of which the kinds and individual instances are beyond reckoning—Allah has set forth again and again in His Book, drawing His servants’ attention through them to this aim, the loftiest of all aims and the most exalted of all ends. Whoever treads any of these paths will be led thereby to knowledge and certitude that there is no god but Him.

The more a servant pursues these paths, yearns for them, and deepens his understanding of them, the stronger his certainty grows and the more firmly his faith takes root, until faith in his heart is steadier than the mountains, sweeter than every delight, and more precious than every treasure.

The greatest and most comprehensive of all these paths is to ponder the Magnificent Quran and reflect upon its verses, for it is the grand gateway to the knowledge of tawhid; through both its details and its concise statements one attains what cannot be attained from any other source.

• Concerning His words, “Seek forgiveness for your sin” (Quran 47:19), the meaning is: ask your Lord to pardon your sin by performing the causes that bring about forgiveness:
• Supplicating for forgiveness;
• Sincere repentance;
• Performing good deeds that erase sins;
• Abandoning wrongdoing;
• Pardoning people and showing kindness to them.

• Part of that is also seeking forgiveness for others; hence He said, “and for the believing men and believing women,” for this is one of the fruits of faith: by virtue of their faith they have a right upon every Muslim that he pray for their forgiveness.

• Since the servant is commanded to seek forgiveness for the believing men and believing women, it necessarily follows that he must:
• Be sincerely concerned for them.