rather than through religious innovations and whims. They are the followers of Abraham’s faith, who followed his faith in pure devotion to Allah.

“Allah took Abraham as a close friend.”

Thus, the command to obey the Messenger and strive to uphold that obedience entailed adhering to monotheism and the faith of Abraham. This means devoting religion sincerely to Allah and worshipping Him through the good deeds He commanded through His messengers.

Within the verses on striving, Allah Most High condemned those who fear the enemy and cling to life. He explained that abandoning striving would not keep death away from them. Rather, wherever they might be, death would overtake them, even in lofty, fortified towers. They therefore gain no benefit by abandoning striving; they gain nothing but loss in this world and the Hereafter. Allah Most High said:

“Have you not seen those who were told, ‘Restrain your hands, establish prayer, and give zakah’? Yet when fighting was prescribed for them, a group of them feared people as they feared Allah, or even more. They said, ‘Our Lord, why have You prescribed fighting for us? If only You had granted us respite for a little while!’ Say, ‘The enjoyment of this world is brief, and the Hereafter is better for those who fear Allah. You will not be wronged even by as much as the thread of a date stone.’”

It has been said that this group were hypocrites. It has also been said that they became hypocrites when fighting was prescribed for them. Another view is that they merely displayed cowardice and lost heart, so there was sickness in their hearts. As Allah Most High said:

“But when a decisive surah is revealed and fighting is mentioned in it,