Thus, even in the simplest of circumstances, at least one of these three things applies to the believer. He should therefore bind his heart to them, remind himself of them, and govern his actions by them in all his circumstances.”

(I say): These are noble, comprehensive words that everyone needs. They set out in detail what the servant needs and accord with the saying of Allah Most High:

“Indeed, whoever fears Allah and is patient—Allah does not let the reward of those who do good go to waste.”

And His saying:

“If you are patient and fear Allah, their scheming will not harm you at all.”

And His saying:

“If you are patient and fear Allah, that is indeed a matter requiring firm resolve.”

“Fear of Allah” encompasses doing what is commanded and abstaining from what is forbidden, while “patience” encompasses patiently enduring what has been decreed. These “three things” thus come down to these two foundations. In reality, all three come down to obeying the command, which means obeying Allah and His Messenger.

The essence of the matter is that every servant needs, at every moment, to obey Allah and His Messenger: to do at that moment what he has been commanded to do at that moment. Obedience to Allah and His Messenger is the worship of Allah for which He created jinn and humankind. As He, Most High, says:

“I did not create jinn and humankind except to worship Me.”

And He, Most High, says:

“And worship your Lord until certainty comes to you.”

And He, Most High, says:

“O humankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may fear Him.”