better than well-being; so ask Allah Most High for both.”

Thus, certainty in the face of calamities, beyond knowing that Allah has decreed them, consists in the heart’s calm, reassurance, and submission. This is part of complete faith in divine decree, both its good and its evil, as He, Exalted is He, says:

“No calamity befalls except by Allah’s permission. Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”

Alqamah said—and this is also reported from Ibn Mas‘ūd—“This is a man who is struck by a calamity and knows that it is from Allah, so he is content and submits.” As for His words, “He guides his heart,” His guidance of the person’s heart is an increase in his faith, just as He, Exalted is He, says:

“As for those who are guided, He increases them in guidance.”

And He says:

“They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.”

The term “faith” most often occurs in the Quran with a qualification. In such cases, the expression does not encompass everything Allah has commanded. Rather, it is understood to entail its necessary consequences and the fulfillment of all that He has commanded; in that case, the unqualified term encompasses it. He, Exalted is He, says:

“Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and spend from that over which He has made you trustees. Those among you who believe and spend will have a great reward.”

“Why do you not believe in Allah when the Messenger calls you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken your covenant, if you are believers?”

“It is He who sends down clear signs to His servant to bring you out of darkness into light.”

And He, Exalted is He, says at the end of the surah:

“O you who believe, fear Allah and believe in His Messenger. He will grant you a double share of His mercy, provide you with a light by which to walk, and forgive you. Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Some commentators have said that the first verse addresses Quraysh, and that the second addresses the Jews and Christians. This is not so, for Allah has never addressed the disbelievers by saying, “O you who believe.” Then, after that, He said: “So that the People of the Scripture may know that they have no power