Thus, the means that Allah has commanded His servants to pursue are themselves acts of worship. Reliance upon Allah is coupled with worship, as in His words:

“So worship Him and put your trust in Him.”

And His words:

“Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. In Him I have put my trust, and to Him I turn in repentance.’”

And the words of Shu'ayb, peace be upon him:

“In Him I have put my trust, and to Him I turn.”

Among them are some who may abandon recommended deeds, though not obligatory ones, and thus fall short to that extent. Others are deluded by extraordinary occurrences they experience, such as spiritual unveilings, prayers answered in ways that depart from the ordinary course of events, and similar things. These distract them from the worship, gratitude, and other duties they have been commanded to observe. Such things frequently befall those pursuing the spiritual path and turning towards Allah. A servant escapes them only by adhering at all times to Allah’s command, with which He sent His Messenger.

As al-Zuhrī said:

“Those of our predecessors who came before us used to say, ‘Holding fast to the Sunnah is salvation.’”

For the Sunnah—as Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, said—is like Noah’s ark: whoever boards it is saved, and whoever stays behind drowns.

Worship, obedience, uprightness, adherence to the straight path, and similar expressions all convey the same meaning, and they have two foundations: