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In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

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Milestones on the path to steadfastness.

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The sense of falling short.

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Among the means of achieving steadfastness:

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A constant sense of falling short.

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Especially regarding the higher stations of righteous deeds.

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Allah the Exalted says:

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"And do not confer favor to acquire more."

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And He says:

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"And how many a prophet [fought and] with him fought many religious scholars."

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“And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Allah loveth the steadfast.” (3:146)

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“And with how many a prophet have there been a number of devoted men who fought (beside him). They quailed not for aught that befell them in the way of Allah, nor did they weaken, nor were they brought low. Allah loveth the steadfast.” (3:146)

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And Allah loves the steadfast.

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“Their cry was only that they said: Our Lord! forgive us for our sins and wasted efforts, make our foothold sure, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.” (3:147)

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"Our Lord, forgive us our sins."

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"And the excess [committed] in our affairs."

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"And plant firmly our feet."

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"And give us victory over the disbelieving people."

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“So Allah gave them the reward of the world and the good reward of the Hereafter. Allah loveth those whose deeds are good.” (3:148)

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"And the good reward of the Hereafter."

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And Allah loves the doers of good.

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Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zad al-Ma'ad:

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When the people realized that defeat only comes upon them due to their sins,

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And that the devil only causes them to slip and defeats them through those sins,

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And that sins are of two types:

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Falling short in fulfilling a right,

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Or transgressing a limit,

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And that victory is contingent upon obedience,

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They said:

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"Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess committed in our affairs."

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Then they realized that their Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He,

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If He does not plant their feet firmly and grant them victory,

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They would not be able to plant their own feet firmly or grant themselves victory over their enemies.

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So they asked Him for what they knew was in His hand, not theirs.

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And that if He did not plant their feet firmly and grant them victory,

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They would neither be steadfast nor victorious.

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Thus, they gave both stations their due:

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The station of the requirement,

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Which is monotheism and seeking refuge in Him, Glorified is He.

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And the station of removing the obstacle to victory,

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Which is sins and excess.

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Then He, Glorified is He, warned them against obeying their enemy.

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And He informed them that if they obeyed them, they would lose both this world and the Hereafter.

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In that is an allusion to the hypocrites who obeyed the polytheists,

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When they were victorious and triumphed on the day of Uhud.

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Then He, Glorified is He, informed them that He is the Protector of the believers,

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And He is the best of helpers.

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So whoever takes Him as a protector is the one who is granted victory.

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Milestones on the path to steadfastness.