The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) also explained the pillars of eemaan as comprising correct beliefs about Allaah, His angels, His scriptures, His Messengers, and the Last Day, as well as correct beliefs about Allaah's preordainment whether its results are perceived to be good or bad. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said to mankind, ((Furthermore, in completion of Our blessings to you, We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, reciting to you Our evidences, purifying you, teaching you the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and teaching you what you had no prior knowledge of. Therefore, make mention of Me. If you do so, I will make mention of you. Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful for My favours. People of eemaan, seek help by way of patient perseverance and prayers. Allaah is certainly with those who patiently persevere)) [2:151-153]. Thus, after Allaah - the Most Exalted - mentioned the blessing of sending His Messenger, Allaah instructed us to mention Him, be grateful to Him, and persevere for Him. Another component of taqwaa is persevering through difficulties one faces which may cause him pain. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((They patiently persevere through extreme poverty and illness, as well as at times of battle. The people who have those qualities are the ones who have been true to Allaah, and they are the ones who observe taqwaa)) [2:177]. My dear audience, life in this world does not remain free of difficulty, and this is why Allaah, the Most Exalted, instructed us to persevere. He said, ((And We shall certainly test you with instances of fear and hunger, as well as loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. However, Messenger of Allaah, you are to convey glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. They are the people who, when afflicted with adversity, say, "We all most certainly belong to Allaah alone, and to Him alone we will all most certainly return." They are the ones whom their Lord will commend and grant mercy, and they are the ones who are soundly guided)) [2:155-157]. Allaah, the Most Exalted, also said, ((As for those who persevere, We shall most certainly reward them according to the best deeds they had performed)) [16:96]. How could a servant of Allaah not persevere if he has sound beliefs about Allaah's preordainment and decree? He unwaveringly believes that anything which befell him would not have missed him; and that even if everyone throughout the entire Earth gathered together to avert what Allaah decreed to happen to him, they would remain unable. Allaah, who is perfect in every way said, ((No adversity takes place upon the Earth or within your own selves without it having already been recorded in the Preserved Tablet even before We brought this creation into existence. All of that is certainly easy for Allaah)) [57:22]. Adversities lead a servant of Allaah to remember the multitude of goodness and blessings that Allaah already granted him. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((And if you attempted to enumerate the blessings of Allaah, you would remain unable to do so. Allaah is truly Most Forgiving, Bestower of mercy)) [16:18]. Allaah also said, ((Have you not seen that Allaah placed everything in the heavens and everything in the Earth at your service, and that He bestowed immense apparent and inconspicuous blessings upon you?)) [31:20]. Adversities lead a servant of Allaah to recognize his Lord's limitless ability, and to then return to his Lord with humility, penitence, and hope. Allaah said, ((We tested them with both prosperity and adversity in order for them to repent and return to the truth)) [7:168]. Allaah further said, ((And We will surely make them taste a near torment prior to the ultimate torment, in order for them to repent and return to the truth)) [32:21]. In addition, Allaah said, ((Messenger of Allaah, We certainly sent Messengers to many peoples prior to you, calling their respective people to Allaah. However, they rejected the Messengers. Thus, We tested those people with loss of wealth and loss of health so that they would humbly submit to their Lord)) [6:42]. Allaah further said, ((Mankind, you are the ones in dire need of Allaah, whereas Allaah has no needs and He is always the Most Praiseworthy.)) [35:15]. --More 13:25 LOCAL TIME 10:25 GMT 0008 www.spa.gov.sa/w1381400