reflection and contemplation establish that the servant should place his hope in Allah alone and rely upon Him alone. As for fearing nothing but his own sin, this follows from the knowledge that no calamity befalls him except because of his sins. This is known through the signs in the world around us and within ourselves, and through what Allah has revealed in His Book, as explained at length elsewhere. We have also explained the underlying reason for this in greater detail than this discussion allows.
This bears out what is established in the authentic hadith narrated by Abū Dharr from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, reporting that his Lord said:
“My servants, it is only your deeds that I record for you and then recompense you for in full. Whoever finds good, let him praise Allah; and whoever finds otherwise, let him blame no one but himself.”
He thus explained that the servant should praise Allah for whatever good he finds, for Allah is the One who bestowed it upon him, and that he should blame no one but himself for whatever evil he finds.
It is also authentically reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“The best supplication for forgiveness is for the servant to say: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no deity except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I remain true to Your covenant and promise as far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for no one forgives sins but You.’”
The words, “I acknowledge before You Your blessings upon me,” express recognition and acknowledgment of His blessings, while the words, “and I acknowledge my sin,” express acknowledgment of sin. Hence one of the early generations said:
“Each morning I find myself between a blessing and a sin, so I wish to respond to the blessing with gratitude and to the sin by seeking forgiveness.”
Gratitude, however, follows the blessing, whereas reliance and hope precede it, as Allah’s intimate friend said:
“So seek from Allah