he is able to attain them and commits what is forbidden, he is ruined. Even lawful dealings with women involve trials.

This explains his words, “And do not expose me to temptation.” Allah Most High said:

“Surely they have already fallen into temptation.” (Surah al-Tawbah 49)

That is, his very turning away from obligatory jihad and shrinking from it, his weakness of faith, and the sickness of his heart that made abandoning jihad seem appealing to him constitute a tremendous trial into which he has already fallen. How, then, can he seek escape from a lesser trial that has not befallen him by falling into a tremendous trial that has already afflicted him?

Allah Most High says:

“And fight them until there is no more strife and religion is entirely for Allah.” (Surah al-Anfāl 39)

Whoever abandons the fighting that Allah has commanded so that there may be no strife has himself fallen into trial because of the doubt that has afflicted