and I have never hesitated over anything I am going to do as I hesitate over taking the soul of My believing servant: he hates death, and I hate to distress him, yet he must inevitably face it.’”

This hadith makes clear that the one drawing near is not the One to whom he draws near; rather, he is distinct from Him. It also makes clear that His servant draws near to Him through nothing comparable to fulfilling the obligatory duties, and thereafter continues drawing near through voluntary deeds until he becomes beloved to Allah. He then hears through Him, sees through Him, grasps through Him, and walks through Him. Then He says:

“If he asks Me, I will surely give him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge.”

Thus He distinguishes between the one asking and the One being asked, and between the one seeking refuge and the One in whom refuge is sought. He describes the servant as asking his Lord and seeking refuge in Him. This is a noble hadith encompassing great purposes, which this is not the place to discuss. Our purpose here is to discuss “Say: He is Allah, One.”

We have explained that the best explanation is that the meanings of the Quran fall into three categories: affirmation of Allah’s oneness, narratives, and rulings. This surah describes the Most Merciful and contains only the affirmation of His oneness. This is because the Quran is Allah’s speech.

Speech is of two kinds: prescriptions and reports. Reports concern either the Creator or created beings. Prescriptions are rulings, such as commands and prohibitions. Reports concerning created beings are narratives, while reports concerning the Creator consist of the mention of His names and attributes. No surah in the Quran is devoted purely to describing the Most Merciful except this surah. In the two Sahīhs, ‘Ā’ishah, may Allah Most High be pleased with her, reported: “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, appointed a man to command a military detachment