“I was behind the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sal- lam, one day when he said:’O boy! I will teach you words [of advice]: observe the rights of Allah and He will protect you. Observe His rights upon you and you will find Him before you. [Adhere to the commands of Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will help you in times of adversity]. If you ask, then ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek aid from Allah. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you, you would never get any benefit except that which Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you, you would never be harmed except that which Allah had written for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have been dried [i.e. decree have been recorded and finalized]. And know that, in having patience over what you dislike, there is a lot of good, and that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.’”1