“And We gave Moses the Book and made it guidance for the Children of Israel, [commanding:] ‘Do not take anyone besides Me as a guardian (wakīl).’” (Qur’an 17:2) Allah forbade taking anyone besides Him as a guardian because a created being cannot independently fulfill all of a servant’s needs. Permissible agency (wakālah) is when a person entrusts another with a task that the latter is capable of performing, thereby fulfilling some of the one who appoints him’s needs. As for fulfilling all needs, none is capable of that except Allah alone. — Ibn Taymiyyah (Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā 4/202)

Translation: “Whoever does righteous deeds—whether male or female—while being a believer, We will surely grant them a good and wholesome life, and We will certainly reward them according to the best of what they used to do.” (Qur’an 16:97) Commentary: Happiness is tied to the rectification of one’s actions. — Ibn Taymiyyah (Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā, 4/176)

“Whatever you have will perish, but what is with Allah will remain. And We will surely reward those who were patient according to the best of what they used to do.” (Surah An-Naḥl, 16:96) It is reported that Ḥafṣah bint Sīrīn had a son who was exceptionally dutiful to her, and he passed away. She said: “Allah granted me of patience whatever He willed to grant, yet I continued to feel a tightness in my chest that would not go away. Then one night, while I was reciting, I came upon this verse. I repeated it again and again, and Allah removed what I had been feeling.” If a truthful and noble king were to ask you to be patient over something, promising you a great reward for your patience, would you not show beautiful patience? Then what of a promise and a reward whose Giver is the King of all kings, glorified and exalted is He?

“And We did not reveal the Book to you except so that you may make clear to them what they differed about, and as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.” (Qur’an 16:64) Ibn ʿĀshūr رحمه الله said: “The Qur’an’s greatest objective is these comprehensive benefits that contain the foundations of all goodness: uncovering ignorance, guiding to true knowledge, and the result of these two matters — mercy — which arises from avoiding misguidance and following guidance.” (Tafsīr Ibn ʿĀshūr, 14/196)

﴿ٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ﴾ “Those who are patient and who place their trust in their Lord.” (Surah An-Naḥl, 16:42) Some of the people of deep insight said: The best of creation are those who, when a matter befalls them, are patient; and when they are unable to deal with a matter, they place their trust (in Allah). (Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī, 12/328)