The first means is that Allah safeguard you from sins, for sins are the very cause of entry into the Fire.

The second means is that, should you fall into sin, Allah grant you repentance and enable you to abandon it. Man is but a human being; he is bound to sin. Yet, praise be to Allah, the gate of repentance is always open. Allah says, “Say, My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins” (al-Zumar 39:53).

Whatever acts of disobedience you may have committed, if you return to Allah and repent, Allah will accept your repentance. However, if the sin concerns another person’s right, you must first clear yourself of that right—either by paying what you owe or by obtaining his pardon—because a human right is not automatically forgiven. Allah forgives what is due to Him, no matter how great, but a human right requires that you secure clearance, whether through pardon or restitution, unlike the right of Allah.

Even so, suppose you cannot locate the person you wronged, do not know his identity, or cannot repay him because the amount is large and you lack the means. If Allah knows that your intention is sincere in repentance, then on the Day of Resurrection Allah will assume the liability on your behalf and will satisfy the person you wronged.

Allah the Exalted also says: “Do they not look at the camels—how they were created; and at the heaven—how it was raised; and at the mountains—how they were set firm; and at the earth—how it was spread out?” (al-Ghashiyah 88:17-20).

“Do they not look…” is an exhortation to reflect on these four matters. The first is: “at the camels, how they were created.” Reflect on how Allah fashioned them with those massive bodies capable of bearing heavy loads, as He, the Exalted, says: “They carry your burdens to a land you could not have reached except with great hardship” (al-Nahl 16:7).