cannot be in two places, for these forms of knowledge are names that most innate dispositions may disregard. As for knowledge of the Divine, no innate disposition can conceivably disregard it. A fuller discussion of this belongs elsewhere.

The point here is simply that Allah—glory be to Him—is the First, who created all beings, and the Last, to whom all that comes into being returns. He is therefore the all-encompassing foundation. Knowledge of Him is the foundation of all knowledge and unites it; remembrance of Him is the foundation of all speech and unites it; and acting for His sake is the foundation of all action and unites it. Created beings can find well-being only in knowing and worshipping their Lord. Once they attain this, anything else is either a beneficial addition, a useless excess, or something harmful.

From knowledge of Him branch the various kinds of knowledge, and from worshipping Him and seeking Him branch the various forms of righteous purpose. Through worshipping Him and seeking His help, the heart is protected and holds firm: it has taken refuge in a secure support and held fast to guiding evidence and sure proof. It thus continues either to grow in knowledge and faith or to remain safe from ignorance and disbelief.

This is what the divine texts teach when they state that, through faith, people emerge from darkness into light. Allah likens the believer—who acknowledges his Lord in knowledge and action—to the living, the sighted, and those who hear, and to light and shade. He likens the disbeliever to the dead, the blind, and the deaf, and to darkness and scorching heat.

They said of the whisperer who withdraws:

“He is the one who withdraws when Allah is remembered and whispers when the remembrance of Allah is neglected.”