a homeland or a place of lasting repose; rather, we have entered it only to take provision from it for the Abode of Permanence. It is a way-station one passes through, not a dwelling of joy—a crossing and corridor, not a homeland or final abode.

Thus the verse points to His lordship, His oneness, His power, His wisdom, and His kindness; it reminds us of His favors and benevolence, and it warns against clinging to this world and treating it as a permanent home. Instead, we must hasten across it toward His abode and His Garden.

How marvelous is the knowledge contained in this single verse: it teaches awareness of Him, affirmation of His oneness, recollection of His blessings, an exhortation to journey toward Him, to prepare for meeting Him and arriving before Him, and a declaration that—glorified be He—He will fold up this realm as though it had never existed, revive its inhabitants after He has caused them to die, and that to Him is the resurrection.

Benefit

A human being possesses two faculties: a theoretical, cognitive faculty and a practical, volitional faculty. His complete felicity depends on perfecting both.

The cognitive faculty is perfected only by: knowing his Originator and Creator; knowing His names, attributes, and acts (1); knowing the path that leads to Him and the dangers along that path; knowing his own self; and knowing his faults. Through these five branches of knowledge (2) the intellect attains completion, and the most learned people are those most familiar and proficient in them.

The practical, volitional faculty is perfected only by observing the rights that Allah—glorified be He—has over the servant and discharging them with sincerity, truthfulness, goodwill, excellence, and faithful adherence.