has truly triumphed. Therefore, whoever longs for that should meet his death while he believes in Allah and the Last Day.

On this basis a person ought always to keep faith in Allah and the Last Day in constant view, for he never knows when death will arrive. Let belief in Allah and the Last Day, then, remain ever before his eyes. When someone believes in Allah—acknowledging what His names and attributes entail—and believes in the Last Day with its rewards and punishments, he will inevitably stay upright upon the religion of Allah. That fulfils the right of Allah, encapsulated in the Prophet’s words: “while he believes in Allah and the Last Day.”

As for people’s rights, the Prophet added: “and let him treat people the way he would love to be treated.” Hence, he must not harm them, because he does not like to be harmed; nor may he transgress against them, for he does not like them to transgress against him; nor insult them, because he does not like to be insulted—and so on. He must neither cheat them in buying and selling or in anything else, nor lie to them, for he would not want that done to him. This is a comprehensive rule: were people to base their dealings on it, they would reap abundant good.

It is akin to the Messenger’s saying, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” And Allah is the One who grants success.