who plants traces of wisdom within it, just as a cultivator working for one of you plants young date palms in his garden.”

ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say—and would write this to his governors:

“Remember what those who obey Allah say, for true matters become manifest to them.”

Whenever a servant exercises his reason, acts upon his knowledge, makes his deeds sincere, purifies his conscience, and lets his understanding range through the insight of reason, the keenness of the soul, the discernment of the spirit, and the intelligence of the heart; strengthens his certainty and dispels his doubts; disciplines his senses according to prophetic manners and watches over his passing thoughts; carefully avoids falsehood in words and deeds until truthfulness becomes his abiding home and ostentation and self-admiration leave him; acknowledges his poverty and need before the One he worships, disclaims any power or strength of his own, remains devoted to service, duly observes proper conduct, preserves the prescribed limits and follows the prophetic way, and flees religious innovation—his knowledge is increased, his insight strengthened, and what is hidden from sight is unveiled to him. He becomes one of those granted increase through the true wellspring of gratitude, which brings further increase.

This knowledge need not arise by necessity, nor need knowledge of Allah’s oneness. Were it to arise by necessity, it would be universal and reward would have no place. Thus He, glorified be He, did not compel knowledge of His oneness or knowledge of further increase; had that been the case, there would have been no need to send messengers, reveal scriptures,