He loves that, is pleased with it, is pleased with those who uphold it, and He rejoices at the repentance of anyone who returns to Him; and in that very act lies the servant’s own delight, happiness, and felicity. I have clarified elsewhere something of Allah’s love for this and His joy over it.

There is nothing in all existence that can soothe the servant, put his heart at rest, and grant him bliss when he turns to it, except Allah, exalted be He. Whoever worships anything other than Allah—even if he loves it and enjoys with it some affection in this worldly life and a measure of pleasure—only brings upon himself harm greater than the harm of savoring poisoned food. “Had there been within them both any gods other than Allah, they would surely have been corrupted. Glorified is Allah, Lord of the Throne, far above what they ascribe” (21:22).

The soundness of the heavens and the earth rests on the true God alone being worshipped; were there any gods in them besides Allah, such a being would not be the true God, for Allah has no namesake and no equal, and they would therefore fall into ruin for lack of the very factor that sets them aright—this from the standpoint of divinity. From the standpoint of lordship it is another matter, as the theologians establish in its proper place.

The servant’s need to worship Allah:

Know that the servant’s poverty before Allah—that he worship Allah and associate nothing with Him—has no