those who believe in Allah and His Messenger and then entertain no doubt” (Qur’an 49:15); and He further says, “The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble; and when His revelations are recited to them, it increases them in faith, and upon their Lord they rely” (Qur’an 8:2); and, “As for those who believe, it increases them in faith, and they rejoice” (Qur’an 9:124).

• Another fruit: Those who believe in Allah and in His perfection, grandeur, majesty, and glory are the people of strongest certainty and deepest tranquillity. They rely upon Allah most, trust His true promise most, hope most for His mercy, and fear His punishment most. They show the highest reverence for Allah and the keenest vigilance, and they surpass all others in sincerity and truthfulness. This is the soundness of the heart, and there is no way to obtain it except through faith.

• Another fruit: A servant cannot attain perfect sincerity toward Allah, nor give wholehearted counsel to the servants of Allah, except through faith. It is faith—his servitude to Allah, his eagerness to draw near to Him, his hope for His reward, and his fear of His punishment—that drives the believer to fulfil the duties owed to Allah and to His creation.

• Another fruit: Dealings among people can only stand on truthfulness, genuine goodwill, and the total absence of deceit in any form—and who, in reality, upholds these principles other than the believers?

• Another fruit: Faith is the greatest support in bearing hardships, carrying the burdens of obedience, and abandoning shameful deeds toward which the soul has a powerful pull; none of this can be achieved without the strength of faith.

• Another fruit: A servant is bound to be tested with something of fear, hunger, and loss of wealth, life, and produce. In such a trial he stands between two choices:

— He may panic, his patience collapses, and he forfeits goodness and reward while incurring blame; his calamity neither lifts nor lessens—indeed, panic only makes it worse.