First: it is an act a person forces himself to undertake and obliges himself to maintain.

Second: it weighs upon the soul, for performing an act of obedience, like abstaining from a sin, is burdensome for souls inclined to evil.

For that reason, patience in fulfilling obedience is superior to patience in merely avoiding sin; hence Allah the Exalted said, “and vie in steadfastness” (Al ‘Imran 3:200)—as though someone were striving against you, just as one contends with his enemy in battle and jihad.

Ribāṭ, on the other hand, is the multiplication of good deeds and persistence in them. Accordingly, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Perfecting ablution despite discomfort, walking many steps to the mosques, and waiting for one prayer after another—that is ribāṭ, that is ribāṭ,” because it involves continual obedience and frequent performance of it.

As for taqwā, it comprises all of the above, for taqwā is to take a shield against what remains of Allah’s punishment, and that is achieved by carrying out His commands and avoiding His prohibitions.

Thus its mention after the preceding elements is an example of citing the general after the specific. Allah—glorified and exalted is He—then made clear that implementing these four injunctions leads to success, saying, “so that you may prosper.”

Al-falāḥ (prosperity) is a comprehensive term that revolves around two matters: attaining what is sought and being saved from what is feared. Whoever is mindful of Allah gains his objective and is delivered from what he dreads.