And His omnipotence, His majesty, His dominion, His power, His sovereignty, and His lordship were proclaimed, so that all creation fell silent and inclined before Him. He said: “I am the King—there is no god but Me—possessor of boundless mercy and the most beautiful names. I am Allah; there is no god but Me, possessor of the glorious Throne and the exalted similitudes. I am Allah; there is no god but Me, possessor of greatness, bounty, blessings, and majesty. I am Allah; there is no god but Me, Originator of the heavens and the earth. My greatness has filled all things; My kingdom has subdued all things; My power has encompassed all things; My knowledge has counted all things; My mercy has embraced all things; and My gentleness has reached everything. I am Allah, O assembly of creatures, know My station! There is nothing in the heavens or the earth but Me and My creation: none subsists or endures except by Me. They turn in My grasp, live by My provision, and their life, death, continuation, and annihilation are in My hand. They have no refuge or refuge except with Me. If I were to abandon them for the blink of an eye, they would all perish, yet I would remain as I am. That would not diminish Me in the least, nor detract from My kingdom, for I am self-sufficient in all honor by My omnipotence and sovereignty, by the evidence of My light, the severity of My might, the elevation of My station, and the greatness of My status. Nothing is like Me; there is no deity besides Me. None of My creatures has the right to rival Me or deny Me—how could they, when I created them on the day I originated them in My knowledge? How could anyone contend with Me whose realm I have subdued? Or overcome Me whose forelock is in My hand? Or be on equal terms with Me, when I cause him to live, afflict his body with sickness, diminish his understanding, take his soul, and age him—so that he cannot withhold anything from Me? How could My servant, the son of My servant, or the son of My bondwoman, disdain worshiping Me, the one who has no creator or heir besides Me? Or worship someone other than Me—one whose days bring him into being and whose appointed term is consumed by the alternation of night and day, themselves a small part of My dominion? To Me, to Me, O people of death and perishing—do not turn to anyone else! I have written mercy upon Myself and decreed forgiveness for those who seek My pardon. I forgive all sins, great and small, for those who ask forgiveness of Me; it does not burden Me nor magnify Me. So do not cast yourselves into ruin, nor despair of My mercy, for My mercy precedes My wrath, and all stores of good are in My hand. I created nothing that I created out of need for it, but to manifest My power, that those who look may contemplate My dominion, reflect on My wisdom, glorify My praise, worship Me without associating anything with Me, and that all faces may turn toward Me.” (Reported by Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilya, vol. 4, pp. 34–35, in comparable wording.) And Ashras, on the authority of Wahb, said: Dawud asked, “My God, where shall I find You?” He replied, “With those whose hearts are humbled by their fear of Me.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya, vol. 4, p. 32.) He also related: A man of the Children of Israel fasted for seventy consecutive weeks, breaking his fast one day each week. He asked God to show him how Satan leads people astray. When his request went unanswered and he despaired, he said to himself, “If I were to devote myself to my sins and my transgressions, and to whatever lies between me and my Lord, that would be better than this trial I endure.” Then he reproached himself: “O soul, you came from your own self; if God knew any good in you, He would have granted your request.” So God sent an angel to their prophet, saying: “Tell that worshiper: ‘Your rebuking of yourself and the words you spoke are more pleasing to Me than all your past worship. God has answered your question and opened your insight—now look!’ ” He looked and saw that the earth was surrounded by the legions of Iblis; there was not a single human being not encircled by demons like flies. He said, “O Lord, who will be saved from these?” He replied, “The one whose heart is tranquil and gentle.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya, vol. 4, p. 32.) Wahb also said: A traveler came upon a field of cucumbers. His soul tempted him to take some, but he restrained it and remained praying in place for three days. A man, scorched by sun and wind, passed by him. Seeing him, he exclaimed, “Glory be to God! This man looks as if he has been burned by fire.” The traveler replied, “This is as much as the fear of Hell produces in me—how would I be if I actually entered it?” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya, vol. 4, p. 32.) And he said: A man of the early generations committed a sin and then said, “It is incumbent upon me that no roof ever offers me shelter until I receive my acquittal from the Fire.”