the meaning of servitude to Allah (p. 31), its levels (p. 163), the fruit that comes from believing in the divine attributes (p. 98), seeking nearness to Him through His Most Beautiful Names (p. 36), the reality of reliance on Allah and its various forms (pp. 124, 165), the subject of decree and predestination (p. 33), provision and life-span (p. 79), that every blessing is from Allah while sins are from Satan (p. 296), and that the Prophet’s intercession—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is attained by obeying him (p. 226). Many other topics related to monotheism are addressed besides these.

The book also contains weighty studies in Qur’anic exegesis and its sciences: the conditions for benefiting from the Quran (p. 3); the different ways in which the Quran can be abandoned (p. 118); reflections on Sūrah al-Fātiḥah (p. 26), Sūrah Qāf (p. 5), and Sūrah al-Takāthur (p. 43); as well as commentaries on numerous verses (pp. 23, 33, 114, 115, 127, 130, 146, 199, 237, 246, 259, 273, and elsewhere).

He occasionally explains certain hadiths, such as the report of Ibn Masʿūd on anxiety and sorrow (p. 30); his statement, peace and blessings be upon him, “Islam is outward and faith is in the heart” (p. 207); Allah’s words to the people of Badr, “Do whatever you wish, for I have forgiven you” (p. 20); his saying, peace and blessings be upon him, “Fear Allah and seek [your livelihood] in a seemly way” (p. 81); and his saying, peace and blessings be upon him, “When the son of Adam awakes, all the limbs humble themselves before the tongue” (p. 81).

He devotes an extensive discussion to a foundational juristic principle: that neglecting the divine commands is, in Allah’s sight, graver than committing the prohibitions, and he establishes this through many lines of evidence (p. 171).

The book further includes important chapters on the virtues of knowledge (p. 151), its categories and ailments (p. 122), the ranks of the sciences (p. 84), the traits of corrupt scholars (p. 85), and a warning to scholars against worldliness and complacency toward it (p. 145).