and repaying their offenses with kindness; their standing in night-prayer with complete sincerity, their fear of the Fire, and their earnest pleas that their Lord deliver them from it; their paying both obligatory and recommended expenditures with moderation—so that if they are balanced even in those outlays where most people are apt either to fall short or to be excessive, then their moderation in everything else is all the more certain; their being kept clear of the major sins and their flagrant varieties, together with their repentance for whatever slips may occur (1); among their qualities, too (2), is the exclusive devotion of their worship to Allah; their refusal to attend gatherings of evil and debauchery—whether in word or in deed—nor do they engage in them themselves; their avoidance of idle talk and base speech that brings neither benefit nor good, a trait that necessarily attests to the perfection of their humanity and integrity, the completeness of their character, and the elevated dignity of their souls above every contemptible pursuit; their receiving Allah’s revelations with ready acceptance, seeking to grasp their meanings, acting upon them, and striving to carry out their rulings; and their calling upon their Lord with the most perfect supplication—one that benefits them, those connected to them, and the Muslims at large—namely, that their spouses and offspring be upright. A necessary corollary of such a prayer is their own striving to teach, admonish, and counsel them, for whoever is truly earnest about a matter and implores Allah for it must of necessity employ every possible means to attain it while relying on his Lord to make the way easy.