to You.” And he said:

“Make me one who establishes prayer.”

And He says:

“And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and were certain of Our signs.”

Thus, he asked his Lord to make him submissive to Him and to make him one who establishes prayer.

And He says:

“But Allah has endeared faith to you and made it beautiful in your hearts.”

The verse concludes:

“As a bounty and blessing from Allah.”

In the Sahīh of Abū Dāwūd and Ibn Hibbān:

“Guide us to the paths of peace, deliver us from darkness into light, and make us grateful for Your blessing, praising You for it and accepting it; and complete it for us.”

And in al-Fātihah:

“Guide us to the straight path.”

In the supplication narrated by al-Tabarānī from Ibn ‘Abbās, he said: Among the supplications offered by the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, on the afternoon of ‘Arafah was:

“O Allah, You hear my words, see where I am, and know what I conceal and what I reveal. Nothing about me is hidden from You. I am wretched and needy, seeking help and protection, fearful and apprehensive, confessing my sin. I ask You as one in need asks; I implore You as a humbled sinner implores; and I call upon You as one who is fearful and afflicted calls—one whose neck bows before You, whose body is humbled before You, and whose pride is abased before You. O Allah, do not leave me disappointed in my supplication to You, my Lord. Be kind and merciful to me, O best of those who are asked, O best of those who give.”

The word “servant” in the Quran encompasses those who worship Allah. A servant who does not worship Him, however, is not called “His servant.” As He says:

“Indeed, you have no authority over My servants.”

As for His words:

“Except those of the misguided who follow you,”

the exception here is discontinuous, as most Quran commentators and scholars have stated.

And He says:

“A spring from which the servants of Allah will drink.”

“The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk humbly upon the earth.”

“And remember Our servant David.”

“What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was ever turning to Allah.”

“And remember Our servant Job.”

“And remember Our servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

“Then they found a servant from among Our servants.”

“Glory be to