- Chapter on Steadfastness
Allah the Exalted says: “So remain steadfast, as you have been commanded” (Hud 11:112). He also says: “Indeed, those who have declared, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained steadfast—the angels will descend upon them, saying, ‘Do not fear and do not grieve, but rejoice in the Garden which you have been promised. We are your allies in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, and there you shall have whatever your souls desire and what you request, as a welcoming gift from One All-Forgiving, Most Merciful’” (Fussilat 41:30-32). And He—glorified be He—says: “Indeed, those who have declared, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained steadfast, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve. Such are the people of Paradise, abiding therein forever, as recompense for what they used to do” (Al-Ahqaf 46:13-14).
Explanation: Steadfastness is for a person to hold firmly to the law of Allah—glorified and exalted is He—just as Allah has commanded, and it is preceded by sincerity to Allah. The author next cites several verses on this topic, beginning with Allah’s words: “So remain steadfast, as you have been commanded.” The address here is directed to the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and, unless there is clear evidence that it is confined to him alone, it applies both to him and to his community. An example of a verse confined to him is His saying: “Have We not expanded your breast for you, and removed from you your burden that weighed heavily on your back” (Al-Sharh 94:1-3), and likewise His saying: “And We have certainly given you the seven oft-repeated [verses] and the magnificent Quran” (Al-Hijr 15:87).