and likewise leaders in daʿwah, in teaching, in enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and in every other rite and ordinance of the religion. In short: make us leaders for the God-fearing in all matters.

As for the second verse, Allah says, “We made them leaders guiding by Our command” (al-Anbiyāʾ 21:73)—meaning that We fashioned them into scholarly imams who direct people, pointing them to Allah’s religion by Allah’s leave. If only the author had cited the end of the verse as well, for Allah makes clear that He granted them this leadership “because they were patient and were certain of Our signs” (al-Sajdah 32:24). They were patient in obeying Allah, patient in refraining from His prohibitions, and patient with the divine decrees that befell them. They endured in obedience, carrying out whatever He commanded; they endured in abstaining, leaving whatever He forbade; and they endured the decrees that came to them on account of their call to the truth and their enjoining right and forbidding wrong. Whoever sets himself up as a caller to the truth and an enjoiner of good must inevitably suffer harm, for most of those who detest the truth will become his enemies—so let him be patient. They also remained patient with other decrees that come unconnected to daʿwah.

“And they were certain of Our signs”—that is, they were convinced of everything Allah told them, and they were sure of the recompense awaiting them for carrying out the commands, abstaining from the prohibitions, calling to Allah, and enjoining right and forbidding wrong. They acted while fully assured of the reward. This is a point we must notice: we must act while certain of the reward. Many people pray, fast, and give charity merely because Allah has commanded it—and that is good, no doubt—but you must realize and keep in mind that you