Allah Most High says:

“Humanity undertook it; indeed, humankind is ever unjust and ignorant.”

“So that Allah may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the polytheists, men and women, and accept the repentance of the believers, men and women. Allah is ever All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

For this reason, Allah, glorified be He, has paired worshipping Him alone with seeking forgiveness in several verses. Allah Most High says:

“So know that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and women.”

And He says:

“So be steadfast in turning to Him and seek His forgiveness.”

And He says:

“Alif Lām Rā. A Book whose verses have been perfected, then set out in detail, from One who is All-Wise, All-Aware.”

“Worship none but Allah. Indeed, I am a warner and a bearer of good news to you from Him.”

“And seek your Lord’s forgiveness, then turn to Him in repentance; He will grant you good enjoyment until an appointed time.”

In the hadith related by Ibn Abī ʿĀsim and others:

“Satan says: ‘I destroyed people through sins, but they destroyed me by declaring that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and by seeking forgiveness. When I saw that, I spread religious deviations among them. Thus they sin without repenting, because they think they are doing good.’”

Allah, glorified be He, has related that Jonah called out in the darkness: “There is no god but You. Glory be to You! Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.” Allah Most High says:

“So We answered him and rescued him from distress. And thus do We rescue the believers.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“As for the supplication of my brother Jonah, no distressed person invokes it without Allah relieving his distress.”

In sum, the servant must adhere to two fundamental principles regarding divine command, and two regarding divine decree.