at the time of death without his soul finding relief in it.” This is the declaration he urged his uncle to utter at the time of death.

He, glorified be He, made night and day succeed one another for whoever wishes to reflect or to give thanks. A person reflects upon the signs that establish knowledge and faith; then, when he recognizes Allah’s blessings, he thanks Him for them. The two are inseparable: signs and blessings are inseparable, for every blessing is a sign, and every sign is a blessing. Likewise, gratitude and reflection are inseparable. A grateful person gives thanks by praising Allah, obeying Him, and doing what He has commanded. This requires reflecting upon what His signs reveal of His names and praiseworthy attributes, and of His commands and prohibitions. Thus, He is praised and His commands are obeyed: this is gratitude. Both require reflection. As for reflection, when a person reflects upon His signs, he recognizes the blessings and kindness they contain. His signs encompass all created things, and they are goodness, blessings, and kindness.

Everything He, glorified be He, has created is therefore a blessing for His servants and is good. In His hand is all good, and all good is in His two hands. In the qunūt supplication:

“We praise You with all that is good.”

And in the opening supplication of prayer:

“All good is in Your two hands, and evil is not ascribed to You.”

In everything Allah has created, He has wisdom, as He says:

“The handiwork of Allah, who has perfected all things.”

And He says:

“Who made everything He created excellent.”

He, glorified be He, has no need of any of creation. Wisdom thus comprises two things. The first is a wisdom pertaining to Him, which He loves and with which He is pleased.