our religion. Do not make the life of this world our greatest concern or the limit of our knowledge, and do not set over us those who will show us no mercy.” Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who declared it fair (ḥasan).

[Commentary]
Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, transmits in the “Chapter on the Etiquette of the Gathering and the Companion” the report of ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Prophet ﷺ would rarely rise from a sitting without saying:

“O Allah, allot for us of reverent fear of You that which will stand between us and disobeying You….”

Here, the verb “iqsim” (allot) means “decree” or “apportion,” and “khashyah” (reverent fear) is fear accompanied by knowledge, as Allah the Exalted says: “It is only those who have knowledge among His servants who truly fear Allah” (Q 35:28).

His words “that which will stand between us and disobeying You” teach that whenever a person fears Allah, that very fear restrains him from violating the sacred limits. Hence the phrase: “that which will stand between us and disobeying You.”

He then said: “and of obedience to You,” meaning: “and allot for us of obedience to You that which will convey us to Your Paradise,” for the road to Paradise lies in obeying Allah, Exalted is He. Thus, when a servant is granted success in fearing Allah, avoiding His prohibitions, and performing His commands, he is saved from the Fire through his fear and enters Paradise through his obedience.

“And of certitude that will make the calamities of this world easy for us to bear.” Certitude (yaqīn) is