he said concerning the plague:

“If it breaks out in a town where you are, do not leave to flee from it; and if you hear of it in a land, do not go there.”

Whoever does what Allah has commanded and then encounters a trial without choosing it will receive Allah’s help in facing it, unlike someone who deliberately exposes himself to it. Yet the door of repentance remains open. A man may ask for authority and be left to bear it unaided, then regret having asked and repent. Allah then accepts his repentance and helps him either to fulfil his duty or to relinquish that authority. The same applies to all other trials.

As He says:

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.’”

These matters require a fuller discussion than space permits here. And (the point) is that Allah, glorified is He, wishes to make things clear to us and guide us to the ways of those before us, of whom He said:

“Those are the ones whom Allah has guided, so follow their guidance.”

They are those to whose path He has commanded us to ask Him to guide us, in His words:

“Guide us to the straight path—the path of those You have blessed.”

He loves us to follow their path and commands us to do so. It is the way of those who turn to Him. Thus, He mentions three matters here: clarification, guidance, and repentance.

It has also been said that the ways intended here are those of both the people of truth and the people of falsehood. That is, He wishes to make clear to us the ways of both groups, guiding His believing servants to the truth