to him disbelief, defiance, and disobedience, so that he is given love for Allah and His Messenger and all that follows from it in place of misguided desires, and light and guidance in place of desires and doubts, and Allah has supported him with strength and ability—having countered ignorance with knowledge, the desire for evil deeds with the desire for good deeds, and the capacity for evil with the capacity for good within himself alone—then the one who strives in Allah’s cause seeks to accomplish this within both himself and others, dispelling his ignorance of wrongdoing and countering his desire for evil deeds with a desire for good deeds, and so forth.

Jihad is the completion of faith and the pinnacle of deeds, as Allah Most High says:

“The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger, then never doubt, and strive with their wealth and their lives in Allah’s cause. It is they who are truthful.”

And He says:

“You are the best nation brought forth for mankind”—and the rest of the verse.

And He says:

“Have you made providing water to pilgrims”—and the rest of the verse.

Likewise, this reward belongs to those who strive in Allah’s cause, as Allah Most High says:

“As for those who strive for Our sake, We will surely guide them to Our ways.”

This concerns knowledge and light. And He says:

“Had We commanded them, ‘Kill yourselves’”

up to His words:

“a straight path.”

Killing themselves means some of them killing others, which is part of jihad; leaving their homes means emigration. He then states that, if they did what they were exhorted to do—emigration and jihad—it would be better for them and make them more steadfast. Thus, the passage contains four things: good without qualification; steadfastness, which includes strength and ability; a great reward; and guidance to the straight path.

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, if you support Allah, He will support you and make your feet firm.”

And He says: “And Allah will surely help