things bestowed as gifts and bounty from Allah, for faith is of the nature of knowledge, whereas outward Islam is of the nature of action.

Allah Most High has said:

“But those who are guided—He increases them in guidance and grants them their righteousness.”

And He said:

“And Allah increases those who are guided in guidance.”

And He said:

“It is He who sent down tranquillity into the hearts of the believers so that they would increase in faith along with their existing faith.”

Such tranquillity may lie beyond a person’s power to attain. Rather, Allah places it in his heart as a bounty from Him and a reward for a previous deed, as He said:

“If they had done what they were instructed to do, it would have been better for them and would have strengthened them more firmly.”

“And then We would have given them from Us a great reward.”

“And We would have guided them to a straight path.”

He also said:

“Fear Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will give you a double share of His mercy and grant you a light by which you may walk.”

And He said:

“Those are the ones in whose hearts He has inscribed faith and whom He has strengthened with a spirit from Him.”

Hence it has been said: “Whoever acts upon what he knows, Allah grants him knowledge of what he did not know.” This kind of thing lies beyond people’s power, although even the outward and inward deeds within their power depend on Allah’s bounty, His assistance, and His enabling them to perform them.

Things, however, fall into two categories: those whose very nature places them within people’s power, through Allah’s assistance, such as standing and sitting; and those whose very nature places them beyond their power.

If it is said that Allah grants those who obey Him strength in their hearts and bodies, enabling them to do what others cannot, this too is true and falls within the same meaning.

Allah Most High said:

“When your Lord revealed to the angels, ‘I am with you, so strengthen those who believe.’”

He also said:

“When you encounter a force, stand firm.”

Thus He commanded them to stand firm, while revealing to the angels that they are to instill this steadfastness in the believers.