—the curse in this world together with the punishment of the Hereafter. This, while attesting to the prophets’ truthfulness, also points to the urge to follow them and the dread of opposing them. Thus it combines knowledge of their veracity with admonition, for exhortation (mawʿiẓa) is a command and a prohibition coupled with encouragement and deterrence.

Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“If only they had done what they were admonished to do …” (Qur’an, 4:66)—
meaning: what they were commanded to do. And He says:
“Allah admonishes you never to return to the like of it ever again, if you are believers” (Qur’an, 24:17)—
meaning: Allah forbids you from repeating it.

This method is the most complete and the most eloquent in achieving the desired aim, for it confers certainty of the prophets’ truthfulness, awakens desire to follow them, instils fear of contradicting them, establishes the soundness of the religion to which they called and the felicity of its people, and exposes the corruption of any religion opposed to theirs and the misery of its adherents.

For this reason the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—used to recite in the ʿEid prayer