obedience to him or his pleasure, believing that he commands, judges, and speaks only in accordance with what the Messenger said. He therefore obeys him, refers disputes to him for judgment, and receives his statements on that understanding. Such a person is excused if he is unable to do otherwise. But if he can gain access to the Messenger’s teachings and knows that someone other than the person he follows is closer to the Messenger, either generally or in certain matters, yet pays no heed to the Messenger or to the person closer to him, then there is reason to fear for him. He falls under the warning. If he considers it lawful to punish and humiliate someone who disagrees with him and does not join him in following his shaykh, he is among the wrongdoing aggressors. Allah has appointed a measure for everything.
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“You alone we worship” rests upon four foundations: giving expression to what Allah and His Messenger love and approve of through the speech of the tongue, the affirmation of the heart, and the deeds of the heart and the limbs.
Servitude is a comprehensive term encompassing these four categories. Those who truly embody “You alone we worship” are those who fulfil them.
The heart’s affirmation is belief in what Allah, glorified is He, has conveyed through His Messengers concerning Himself, His names, His attributes, His deeds, His angels, and the meeting with Him.
The tongue’s speech consists in conveying these truths about Him, calling others to them, defending them, exposing the falsehood of innovations that contradict them, remembering Him, and conveying His commands.
The deeds of the heart include loving Him, relying upon Him, turning to Him, fearing Him, placing hope in Him, devoting one’s religion sincerely to Him, patiently obeying His commands, refraining from His prohibitions, and bearing His decrees; being content with Him and with what comes from Him; showing loyalty and enmity for His sake; humbling oneself and submitting to Him; yielding to Him with humility; and finding tranquillity in Him. These and other deeds of the heart include obligations that are more binding than those of the limbs, and recommended deeds that are dearer to Allah than the recommended deeds of the limbs. Without them, the deeds of the limbs are either of no benefit or of little benefit.
The deeds of the limbs include prayer, jihad, and walking to the Friday prayer