Two weeks ago, a brother asked me to speak to his brother: "My brother is kind, generous, content with his religion... …

Two weeks ago, a brother asked me to speak to his brother: "My brother is kind, generous, content with his religion... but he does not pray."

I met the brother in question... After some small talk: Why don’t you pray, Abu so-and-so?

— Look, Doctor... I love Allah. Allah has blessed me greatly in my life, and I am certain that Allah loves me... and I cannot imagine that...

— You cannot imagine that He would punish you for neglecting prayer. Is that right?

— Yes...

— Do you know, my friend, that by saying this, you are repeating what the People of the Book before you said when they claimed: (We are the children of Allah and His beloved ones.) So Allah said to them: (Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins? Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills, and to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the return.")

— This arrow struck our friend’s heart amidst much discussion...

— I sent him a message today asking about his prayers, and he replied that he has been consistent and said: (This verse stayed with me, and it became the driving force that moves me.)

— I wanted to share this experience with you so that we may all remember that: (It is not by your wishes nor the wishes of the People of the Book)... Your honor with Allah is only through your obedience to Him.