The benefits of the verse: “Those who say, ‘Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’”

Then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: to the end of it. Among the benefits of this verse is that the characteristics of the pious include their declaration of faith in Allah, as He said: The statement here is made with the tongue and with the heart. Another benefit is their acknowledgment of servitude and that they are created beings belonging to Allah, as they say: . Another benefit is that among the characteristics of the pious is that they do not become pleased with themselves and that they see themselves as falling short, as they seek forgiveness from Allah, as they say: . Another benefit is that piety does not protect the servant from sins; rather, he may have sins, but the pious person hastens to repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Another benefit is the permissibility of seeking nearness to Allah through a means (tawassul) by faith, as He said: The fā’ here indicates causality, showing that what follows is a result of what precedes it. Among the benefits of this noble verse is that a person should ask Allah for forgiveness and protection from the Fire, as He said: However, in the matter of supplication, one should be expansive for two reasons: The first reason is that a person should keep in mind all the types of things for which he supplicates. The second reason is that supplication is addressing Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and the more a person expands in addressing Allah, the more it is desirable and beloved to Him than if he supplicated in a concise manner. Thirdly, the more one increases in supplication, the closer one becomes to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Fourthly, the more one increases in supplication, the more it demonstrates the human’s need for his Lord. For this reason, we find that it came in the texts: And this is sufficed by saying: “O Allah, forgive me my sin.” In fact, if it were said that it is sufficed by saying: “O Allah, forgive me,” that would be correct. But in the station of supplication, one should be expansive. For this reason, they said: . Among the benefits of this noble verse is the affirmation of the punishment of the Fire, as He said: The punishment of the Fire is either permanent and continuous, which is for the people of the Fire who are its permanent inhabitants, or it is temporary, which is for the people of sins, for they are punished according to their sins if Allah does not forgive them.