the Hereafter.

When Pharaoh, upon staring death in the face and realizing that he was about to drown, cried out to Him in panic, it did him no good, for faith that is professed only at the moment of witnessing destruction is not accepted.

Such is Allah’s way with His servants: no adversity in this world has ever been repelled by anything equal to pure monotheism. Hence the supplication for relief from distress is framed in monotheism (1), and the plea of the Man of the Fish—never voiced by anyone in hardship without Allah relieving his hardship—is likewise a declaration of monotheism (2).

Nothing hurls people into overwhelming calamities but polytheism, and nothing rescues them but monotheism. Monotheism, then, is the refuge, the sanctuary, the fortress, and the aid of all creation.

Allah alone grants success.

Benefit

Pleasure is contingent upon love: it strengthens as love strengthens and weakens as love weakens. The stronger one’s desire and yearning for the beloved, the more complete the pleasure upon attaining him.

Love and yearning, in turn, depend upon knowledge and awareness of Him. The more perfect one’s knowledge of Him, the more perfect one’s love.

Since the perfection of bliss in the Hereafter and the perfection of pleasure both trace back to knowledge and love, whoever is more knowledgeable of Allah, His names, His attributes, and His religion will love Him more, and his delight