between the two, although indecency is included in “what is wrong” in His saying:
“They forbid what is wrong.”
Then He mentions two things alongside wrongdoing in His saying:
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and forbids indecency, wrongdoing, and oppression.”
Here He distinguishes oppression from the other two, although it is included in wrongdoing in the two passages cited earlier.
The term “worship” is another example. When worshipping Allah is commanded without qualification, it includes everything Allah has commanded. Relying upon Him and seeking His help are among the things He has commanded. They are therefore included in such statements as:
“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”
And His saying:
“Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him.”
And His saying:
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you.”
And His saying:
“Indeed, We have sent down the Book to you in truth, so worship Allah with sincere devotion to Him.”
“Say, ‘It is Allah I worship, with sincere devotion to Him.’”
And His saying:
“Do you command me to worship other than Allah, you ignorant people?”
Yet another term may be mentioned alongside worship, as in His saying:
“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”
And His saying:
“So worship Him and rely upon Him.”
And Noah’s saying:
“Worship Allah, fear Him, and obey me.”
Likewise, when the expression “obedience to Allah” is used on its own, it includes everything He has commanded, and obedience to the Messenger is included in obedience to Him. Similarly, when the term “piety” is used on its own, it includes carrying out every command and refraining from everything forbidden.
Talq ibn Habīb said: “Piety means acting in obedience to Allah, upon light from Allah, hoping for Allah’s mercy; and refraining from disobedience to Allah, upon light from Allah, fearing Allah’s punishment.”
This is its meaning in His saying:
“Indeed, the pious will be amid gardens and rivers,
in a seat of honour, near a Sovereign, Perfect in Power.”