when the servant recognizes that Allāh is his Lord and Creator and that he is in need of Him, he understands

and this servant asks his Lord, supplicates to Him, and relies upon Him. However, he may obey His command or disobey Him, and he may worship Him alongside worshiping Satan and idols. Such servitude does not distinguish between the people of Paradise and the people of Hell, nor does it make a person a believer, as Allāh says (Yūsuf, 106): "And most of them believe not in Allāh except while they associate others with Him." For the polytheists acknowledged that Allāh is their Creator and Provider, yet they worshiped others besides Him. Allāh says (Luqmān, 25): "And if you ask them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' they will surely say, 'Allāh.'" And He says (al-Muʾminūn, 84-89): "Say, 'To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?' * They will say, 'To Allāh.' Say, 'Then will you not remember?' * Say, 'Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?' * They will say, 'To Allāh.' Say, 'Then will you not fear Him?' * Say, 'In whose hand is the realm of all things—and He protects while none can protect against Him—if you should know?' * They will say, 'To Allāh.' Say, 'Then how are you deluded?'" And many who speak of the reality witness only this reality, which is the universal reality shared in its witnessing and knowledge by the believer, the disbeliever, the righteous, and the wicked, even Iblīs acknowledges this reality, as do the people of Hell. Iblīs said (al-Ḥijr, 36; Ṣād, 97): "My Lord, then reprieve me until the Day they are resurrected." And (al-Ḥijr, 39): "He said, 'My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all.'" And he said (Ṣād, 82): "By Your might, I will surely mislead them all." And he said (al-Isrāʾ, 62): "Do You see this one whom You have honored above me? If You delay me until the Day of Resurrection, I will surely destroy his descendants, except for a few." And similar statements