This category also includes His words, Most High:

“Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book, and establish prayer.”

And His words:

“And those who hold firmly to the Book and establish prayer.”

“Reciting the Book” means following it. Thus, concerning His words, Most High:

“Those to whom We have given the Book recite it as it should be recited,”

Ibn Masʿūd said: “They regard as lawful what it declares lawful, regard as forbidden what it forbids, believe in its ambiguous passages, and act upon its clear passages.” Following the Book therefore encompasses prayer and other acts, but prayer is singled out for mention because of its special merit. Likewise, He said to Moses:

“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.”

Establishing prayer in remembrance of Him is among the greatest forms of worshipping Him. The same applies to His words, Most High:

“Fear Allah and speak words that are right.”

And His words:

“Fear Allah and seek the means of drawing near to Him.”

And His words:

“Fear Allah and be with the truthful.”

These things, too, are part of fully observing the fear of Allah. Likewise, He says:

“So worship Him and rely upon Him.”

Reliance upon Allah and seeking His help are themselves part of worshipping Him. Yet they are singled out for mention so that the worshipper makes a deliberate point of practising them, for they provide help in all other forms of worship: He, glorified is He, can only be worshipped with His help.

Once this is clear, a created being’s perfection lies in fully realizing its servitude to Allah. The more fully a servant realizes this servitude, the greater his perfection and the higher his rank. Anyone who imagines that a created being can escape servitude in any respect, or that leaving it behind is a more perfect state, is among the most ignorant and misguided of all creatures.

Allah Most High says:

“They say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son.’ Glory be to Him! Rather, they are honoured servants.”

“They do not precede Him in speech, and they act at His command.”