(Al-Hijr 15:87) – this verse, too, is exclusive to the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When, however, there is no proof that the address is confined to him alone, it is directed to him and to his community alike. On that basis, the command, “So remain steadfast as you have been commanded,” is general for him and for his ummah: every individual must stand firm as he has been instructed, altering nothing in Allah’s religion—adding nothing to it and omitting nothing from it. For this reason Allah also says, “So remain steadfast as you have been commanded, and do not follow their desires” (al-Shura 42:15).

The second verse is His statement: “Indeed, those who have declared, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained steadfast” (Fussilat 41:30). “Our Lord is Allah” means: He is our Creator, Owner, and Disposer of all affairs, and therefore we devote ourselves to Him alone. “Then remained steadfast” upon that declaration—upon saying “Our Lord is Allah”—that is, they upheld Allah’s law. Those who possess these two qualities—“They said, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained steadfast”—upon them the angels descend, one angel after another, saying, “Do not fear and do not grieve.” “Do not fear” with regard to what lies ahead of you, and “do not grieve” over what has passed; “but rejoice in the Garden that you have been promised.” For whoever says, “My Lord is Allah,” and stands firm upon Allah’s religion is assuredly among the people of Paradise. The angels also say to them, “We are your allies in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.” Thus the angels are patrons of those who say, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then—