evil, and at times he may intend by so doing to draw those who mix and associate with him in such matters (1) toward an act of good or at least to restrain them from evil. He may likewise intend, through his pleasant companionship, to gladden and cheer the hearts of the believers. There is no doubt that all of this proceeds from faith and is among its necessary implications.

Because faith is of this nature, Allah says in several verses of His Book: “So put your trust in Allah, if you are truly believers.” (Q 5:23)

• Another fruit: Faith emboldens the servant and adds bravery to the already brave. Relying on Allah, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise, and filled with hope and longing for what is with Him, he finds hardships light and advances into frightening situations confident in his Lord—hoping in Him and wary of falling from His favor by fearing any creature.

One of the factors that intensify courage is that the believer truly knows his Lord and truly knows the creation. He knows that Allah alone brings benefit and harm, gives and withholds; that no one grants blessings but Him and no one averts afflictions but Him; that He is rich in every respect; that He is more merciful to His servants than a mother is to her child and gentler with them than anyone else; whereas the creation possesses none of this. There is no doubt that this powerful awareness calls a person to great courage, to confine his fear and hope to his Lord alone, and to uproot from his heart the fear, hope, and awe he might feel toward people.

• Likewise: Faith is the greatest means of attaching the heart to Allah in all its religious and worldly pursuits. Robust faith summons a person to this aim—the loftiest of aims without exception and the ultimate happiness of the servant—and, in turn, calls him to free himself from the bondage of his heart to created beings and from dependence upon them.