namely those who associate partners with Allah, away from the firm word. He leads these astray through His justice because of their wrongdoing, and keeps the believers steadfast through His grace because of their faith.
[Surah Abraham (14): verse 27]
“Allah keeps those who believe steadfast with the firm word, in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. Allah leads the wrongdoers astray, and Allah does whatever He wills.” (27)
Beneath this verse lies a great treasure. Whoever is enabled to recognize it, skillfully unearth it, take possession of it and spend from it has indeed gained; whoever is deprived of it is truly deprived.
The servant cannot do without Allah keeping him steadfast, even for the blink of an eye. Unless Allah keeps him steadfast, the sky and earth of his faith would slip from their places. Allah Most High said to the most honored of His creation in His sight, His servant and Messenger:
17: 74 “Had We not kept you steadfast, you would almost have inclined to them a little.”
He also said to the noblest of His creation:
8: 12 “When your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘I am with you, so keep those who believe steadfast.’”
In the two Sahīh collections, al-Bajalī relates: “While He questions them and keeps them steadfast.” Allah Most High also said to His Messenger:
11: 120 “We relate to you these accounts of the messengers to strengthen your heart.”
All people fall into two groups: those granted divine aid through being kept steadfast, and those forsaken by being left without such support.
The basis of steadfastness—its root and source—is the firm word and doing what the servant has been commanded to do. Through these two things Allah keeps His servant steadfast. The firmer a person’s speech and the better his deeds, the more firmly Allah establishes him. Allah Most High said:
4: 66 “Had they done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened them further.”
Those whose hearts are firmest are those whose speech is firmest.
The firm word is speech that is true and truthful, as opposed to speech that is false and deceitful. Speech is thus of two kinds: firm speech grounded in reality, and false speech with no reality behind it.
The firmest word is the declaration of Allah’s oneness and all that it entails. It is the greatest means by which Allah keeps steadfast