in his eyes; a man whom a woman of rank and beauty invites to sin, but who says, ‘I fear Allah, Lord of all worlds’; and a man who gives charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand spends.”

In Sahīh Muslim, ‘Iyād ibn Himār, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The people of Paradise are of three kinds: a just ruler; a man who is merciful and tenderhearted towards every relative and every Muslim; and a wealthy man who is chaste and gives charity.”

In the Sunan collections, it is reported that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“One who collects charity justly is like one who strives in Allah’s cause.”

When commanding fighting in His cause, Allah Most High said:

“Fight them until there is no more fitnah and religion is entirely for Allah.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked:

“O Messenger of Allah, a man fights out of bravery, another out of partisan zeal, and another for show. Which of these is in Allah’s cause?”

He replied:

“Whoever fights so that Allah’s word may be supreme is fighting in Allah’s cause.”

Al-Bukhārī and Muslim both recorded this in their Sahīh collections.

The aim, then, is that religion should be entirely for Allah and that Allah’s word should be supreme. “Allah’s word” is a comprehensive term encompassing His words contained in His Book. Likewise, Allah Most High said:

“We certainly sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance, so that people may uphold justice.”

The purpose of sending the messengers and revealing the Scriptures is therefore that people should uphold justice concerning both the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. Then Allah Most High said: