harm may come to him from a source of pleasure, nor does he lose hope that pleasure may come to him from a source of harm, for he does not know the outcomes. Allah knows of them what the servant does not. This realization has several implications for the servant.

One is that nothing benefits him more than obeying his Lord’s command, even if it is difficult at first, because its outcomes are all goodness, happiness, delight, and joy. Even if his soul dislikes it, it is better and more beneficial for it. Likewise, nothing harms him more than committing what is forbidden, even if his soul desires it and inclines towards it, for its outcomes are all pain, sorrow, evil, and calamity.

The distinguishing trait of a rational person is to endure a little pain for the great pleasure and abundant good that follow it, and to avoid a little pleasure because of the great pain and lasting evil that follow it.

The ignorant person’s gaze does not extend beyond beginnings to their outcomes, whereas the intelligent, discerning person always looks towards the outcomes beyond the veils of their beginnings. Beyond those veils, he sees both praiseworthy and blameworthy ends. He sees forbidden things as delicious food mixed with deadly poison: whenever its delicious taste invites him to eat it, the poison it contains warns him against it. He sees commands as bitter medicine that leads to health and recovery: whenever its bitterness discourages him from taking it, its benefit urges him to do so. Yet this requires a depth of knowledge by which he can discern outcomes from their beginnings, and strength of patience by which he prepares himself to endure the hardship of the journey, hoping for a good outcome at its end. Without certainty and patience, this becomes impossible for him. When his certainty grows strong, every hardship he bears in pursuit of lasting goodness and lasting pleasure becomes easy for him.

Among the subtle insights of this verse is that it calls upon the servant to entrust his affairs to the One who knows the outcomes of all things, and to be content with what He chooses and decrees for him, in hope of a good outcome.

Another is that he should not dictate to his Lord, prefer his own choice to His, or ask Him for something of which he has no knowledge. It may contain his harm and ruin without his knowing it. He should therefore not prefer any choice of his own to his Lord’s, but should ask Him to choose well for him and make him content with what He chooses. Nothing is more beneficial to him than this.

Another is that when he entrusts his affairs to his Lord and is content with what He chooses for him, He supports him in what He chooses for him