—that is, a trial may visit them, lodging in their hearts as disbelief, hypocrisy, or innovation, or a painful punishment may overtake them in this world—death, the prescribed legal penalty, imprisonment, or any other immediate chastisement.

Moreover, Allah has made obedience to him ﷺ the means by which a servant attains Allah’s love and the forgiveness of his sins. The Most High says: “Say, ‘If you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins’” (Aal ʿImrān 3:31).

He has likewise deemed obedience to him guidance and disobedience to him misguidance: “If you obey him, you will be rightly guided” (al-Nūr 24:54); and: “But if they do not respond to you, know that they are merely following their own desires. Who is more astray than one who follows his desire without guidance from Allah? Surely Allah does not guide an unjust people” (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:50).

He, exalted is He, has also informed us that within the Messenger lies the finest pattern to emulate: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for anyone who hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often” (al-Aḥzāb 33:21).