guidance is the guidance of Muhammad. The worst matters are newly introduced ones; every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.”

Since the best speech is the speech of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, whoever is closer to these and resembles them more closely is nearer to perfection and more deserving of it. Whoever is further removed from them and resembles them less is further from perfection and more deserving of falsehood. The person who attains perfection is the one who is most obedient to Allah and most patient with whatever befalls him. The more closely a person follows what Allah and His Messenger command, the more fully he conforms to what Allah loves and is pleased with, and the more patiently he bears what Allah has decreed and ordained, the more complete and excellent he is. Whoever falls short in these two qualities is deficient to the extent that he falls short.

Allah Most High has mentioned patience and piety together in several places in His Book. He has explained that He grants His servant victory over his enemies among the disbelievers—those at war with the Muslims, those bound by treaty, and the hypocrites—as well as over Muslims who wrong him, and that the ultimate outcome belongs to the person endowed with patience and piety. Allah Most High says:

“Yes, if you remain patient and fear Allah, and they come upon you at once, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels bearing marks of distinction.”

Allah Most High also says:

“You will surely be tested in your possessions and yourselves, and you will surely hear much abuse from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate partners with Allah. But if you remain patient and fear Allah, that is indeed among the matters requiring firm resolve.”

And He Most High says:

“O you who believe, do not take as intimates those outside your community. They spare no effort to ruin you and wish to see you suffer. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their hearts conceal