astronomical causes or to hidden psychic forces!

The reason patience and gratitude allow a person to profit from the signs is that faith itself rests on those two pillars: one half of it is patience and the other half is gratitude. Accordingly, the strength of a servant’s faith is proportionate to his patience and his gratitude. Now, Allah’s signs benefit only the one who believes in Him and in His signs, and his belief is not complete without patience and gratitude. The apex of gratitude is tawḥīd (pure monotheism), while the apex of patience is to refuse the call of caprice. Hence, if someone is a polytheist who follows his own desires, he is neither patient nor grateful, and the signs will neither profit him nor kindle any faith within him.

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The second principle—that sin, arrogance, and falsehood inevitably lead to misguidance—is likewise stated in many Qur’anic passages, such as:

“By it He leads many astray, and by it He guides many; yet He leads none astray except the defiantly disobedient (26)—those who break Allah’s covenant after it has been ratified, sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption on earth. It is they who are the losers (27).” ⦗al-Baqarah: 26–27⦘

“Allah makes firm those who believe with the firm word, in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. But Allah leaves the wrongdoers to stray, and Allah does whatever He wills.” ⦗Ibrāhīm: 27⦘

“So what is the matter with you concerning the hypocrites, that you are divided into two groups about them, while Allah has turned them back because of what they earned?” ⦗an-Nisāʾ: 88⦘

“They said, ‘Our hearts are sealed.’ Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so little is it that they believe.” ⦗al-Baqarah: 88⦘