eager to supplicate and desirous of sincerity, humble entreaty, and weeping. Whatever harm befalls you both is due to your past sins and the evil deeds you have committed. Nevertheless, the One who inspired you to supplicate and enabled you to do so will surely grant you a good outcome. Through your supplication, He has already delivered you from much harm and warded off great affliction from you.

Gratitude for Blessings

When your Lord bestows a blessing upon you, receive it by honoring it, giving thanks for it, and being generous with it. Make it an aid to obeying Him and a means of worshipping Him.

Warning against Dishonoring Blessings

Beware—beware lest you dishonor a blessing from your Lord, so that it leaves you blameworthy and departs from you while you are despised. It is related that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—said, “O Aisha, take good care of the blessings of Allah Most High, for when they depart from a people, they seldom return to them.”

Beware lest the blessing lead you into insolence, causing you to fall short in giving thanks for it, forget what is due to it, or imagine that you attained it through your own efforts or reached it through your own striving. It would then turn into a painful punishment and a grievous affliction.

Obedience to the Ruler in What Is Right

You must obey the one whom Allah has placed in authority over you in everything that does not entail disobedience to Allah Most High. Obedience to him is among the best means by which you can hold fast and seek protection from those who are hostile to you.