The crushing burden of debt and being overpowered by men form a pair. Both cause the soul pain and torment. The former is subjugation by a rightful claim—the crushing burden of debt—while the latter is wrongful subjugation—being overpowered by men.

Moreover, the crushing burden of debt is generally a form of subjugation brought about by something the person himself has done, whereas being overpowered by men is subjugation imposed against his will.

Another example is his seeking refuge, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “from sin and debt,” for both cause immediate pain.

Another example is his saying:

“I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your displeasure, and in Your pardon from Your punishment.”

Displeasure is the cause of pain, while punishment is the pain itself. Thus, he sought refuge from the greatest pain and its most powerful causes.

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The evil from which refuge is sought is of two kinds: evil that already exists, whose removal is sought; and evil that does not exist, which one asks to remain nonexistent and never come into being. Likewise, good in general is of two kinds: good that already exists, whose continuation and preservation one seeks, asking not to be deprived of it; and good that does not yet exist, whose attainment one seeks.

These four are the fundamental things that people ask of the Lord of all worlds; all their requests revolve around them.

These four requests appear in Allah’s words recounting His servants’ supplication at the end of Surah Āl ʿImrān:

“Our Lord, we have heard a caller calling to faith, ‘Believe in your Lord,’ and we have believed. Our Lord, forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds.”

This is a request to remove existing evil, for sins and misdeeds are evil, as explained earlier. Then He says:

“And let us die among the righteous.”

This is a request for existing good—faith—to endure until He takes their souls while they remain upon it. These, then, are two categories.