36 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; he said: Muhammad ibn al-Ḥusayn said: Ahmad ibn Sahl al-Urdunnī related to me; Abū Qudāmah al-Ramlī related to me, saying: A man recited the verse, “And rely upon the Ever-Living who ⦗64⦘ never dies, and glorify Him with praise; He alone is fully aware of His servants’ sins” (al-Furqān 25:58). He then turned to Sulaymān al-Khawwāṣ and said, “Abū Qudāmah, after hearing this verse it is unfitting for any servant to seek refuge with anyone other than Allah in his affairs.”

He went on: “Reflect on how Allah, exalted is He, says, ‘And rely upon the Ever-Living who never dies’ (al-Furqān 25:58). He has made it clear to you that He does not die, whereas all of His creation will die. Then He commanded you to worship Him, saying, ‘and glorify Him with praise’ (al-Furqān 25:58). After that He informed you that He is All-Aware, All-Seeing.

By Allah, Abū Qudāmah, if a servant were to deal with Allah through genuine reliance and a truthful intention to obey Him, the governors—and everyone beneath them—would find themselves in need of him. How, then, could such a person be needy when his refuge and sanctuary are with the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy?”