anyone to whom I may flee for refuge or with whom I may seek shelter besides my Master, whose servant I am.

Bound up with this confession is the acknowledgment that I am a being created and managed, commanded and forbidden; that I act only under the rule of servitude, not by autonomous choice. Such autonomy befits kings and free men, whereas the conduct of slaves is pure servitude.

These, then, are the servants of obedience whom He—exalted is He—attributes to Himself in His words, “Indeed, My servants—over them you shall have no authority” (15:42) and “The servants of the All-Merciful are those who walk upon the earth gently” (25:63). All others are servants by compulsion and lordship; their ascription to Him is like attributing any house to its Owner, whereas the ascription of the obedient servants is like His attribution of the Sacred House to Himself, of His she-camel to Himself, of His abode—Paradise—to Himself, and of the servitude of His Messenger to Himself: “If you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our servant” (2:23); “Glory be to Him who took His servant by night” (17:1); “When the servant of Allah stood up to call upon Him” (72:19).

To realize the meaning of the words, “Indeed, I am Your servant,” is to embrace the obligations of servitude: humility, submission, repentance, carrying out the command of one’s Master, shunning His prohibitions, constant need of Him, seeking refuge with Him, relying on Him for aid, trusting in Him, and fastening one’s heart to none but Him in love, fear, and hope.

It also affirms that I am a servant in every respect—young or old, alive or dead, obedient or disobedient, healthy or afflicted—with my spirit, my heart, my tongue, and my limbs.

It further means that my property and my very self belong to You, for a slave and all he possesses belong to his master.

And it proclaims that every blessing I enjoy has come from You; all of it is Your favor upon Your servant.