only this one admonition: that you stand up for Allah, in pairs and individually, then reflect. If you put this into practice you will attain the desired end and be spared what you fear, for He says: “that you stand up for Allah, two by two and alone, and then reflect.”

“To stand up for Allah” means to do so with complete sincerity: you rise in obedience to the Almighty exactly as you have been commanded, seeking His Face alone, and only afterwards do you reflect. When you do that, this is an admonition—indeed, what an admonition!

The verse indicates that when a person undertakes a deed for Allah’s sake he ought to examine that deed: did he perform it in the required manner? Did he fall short? Did he add something? What benefit did the deed bring—purity of heart, growth of the soul, and the like?

So do not be like someone who carries out righteous works as if they were routine customs performed each day. Rather, think about what you have gained from that act of worship and how it has affected your heart and your steadfastness.

Let us illustrate with the prayer. Allah Most High says, “Seek help through patience and prayer” (al-Baqarah 2:45), and He says, “Establish the prayer, for the prayer restrains from indecency and wrongdoing” (al-ʿAnkabūt 29:45). Let us ask ourselves: when we pray, do we find greater resolve, strength, and energy for righteous deeds so that the prayer truly assists us? In reality this is rare among most people. Therefore look at what the prayer has done for you: has it become a support in obeying Allah, in facing trials, and in other matters?

It is also related of the Prophet ﷺ that whenever something weighed heavily upon him he would hasten to