he had originally set out to secure—yet he had no inkling of that sweetness at the beginning; he discovered it only after persistent pleading and yearning.

The Quran is filled with reminders that the servants stand in need of Allah alone, with mentions of His favors upon them, and with descriptions of the varieties of bliss and pleasure He has promised them in the Hereafter—none of which any created being can bestow. This perspective, therefore, perfects reliance upon Allah, gratitude to Him, and love for Him because of His kindness.

The fourth aspect is that a servant’s attachment to anything other than Allah harms him whenever he takes from it more than he needs for the worship of Allah. Should he eat or drink beyond his necessity, it will injure and even ruin him; the same holds true for marital relations and clothing. If he loves something with such complete devotion that it becomes his intimate companion, he is bound either to grow weary of it or to be separated from it. In the well-known report it is said: “Love whatever you wish, for you will surely part from it; do whatever you wish, for you will surely meet it; and be whatever you wish, for as you deal, so shall you be dealt with.” Know, then, that whoever loves anything for other than Allah will inevitably be harmed by the very object of his love,