by the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, with anything he did not entrust to others?”

He replied, “No.” In another wording: “Except for an understanding of His Book that Allah grants a servant.”

As for “divinely bestowed knowledge,” there is no doubt that Allah opens the hearts of His God-fearing friends and His righteous servants to insights He does not grant others, because their hearts are free of what He dislikes and they follow what He loves. This is as ‘Alī said: “Except for an understanding of His Book that Allah grants a servant.” A transmitted report states: “Whoever acts upon what he knows, Allah grants him knowledge of what he did not know.”

The Quran indicates this in several places, as in His words:

“If they had done what they were admonished to do, it would have been better for them and would have established them more firmly. Then We would have granted them a great reward from Us, and We would have guided them to a straight path.”

He thus declares that Allah guides whoever does what he is commanded to do to a straight path. Allah Most High also says:

“Through it Allah guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace.”

And Allah Most High says:

“As for those who are guided, He increases them in guidance and grants them their piety.”

He also says:

“They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.”

And Allah Most High says:

“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for the God-fearing.”

And Allah Most High says:

“This is enlightenment for mankind, and guidance and mercy for people who have certainty.”

And Allah Most High says:

“This is enlightenment from your Lord, and guidance and mercy for people who believe.”

He also declares that pursuing what He dislikes turns people away from knowledge and guidance, as in His words:

“When they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate.”

And His words:

“They swear by Allah their most solemn oaths that if a sign came to them, they would surely believe in it. Say, ‘Signs are only with Allah.’ And what will make you realize