of His creation (1). Thus, this is a commodity for which the Lord of the heavens and the earth is the Buyer; the enjoyment of gazing upon His noble Face and hearing His speech directly from Him in His abode is its price; and the one through whose hand the contract was executed is His Messenger (2). How, then, can it befit a rational person to squander it, neglect it, and sell it for a paltry sum in a realm that is passing, decaying, and doomed to vanish? Is that not the very height of loss (3)? Yet the magnitude of this outrageous (4) loss (5) will only become plain on the Day of Mutual Loss and Gain, when the scales of the God-fearing are made heavy and the scales of the people of falsehood are made light.
Section
Once you have grasped this introduction, know that perfect delight, joy and happiness (6), pleasant living, and true bliss are found only in knowing Allah, affirming His oneness, finding intimacy with Him, yearning to meet Him, and concentrating both heart and mind upon Him. For the most wretched life is that of the person whose heart is scattered and whose concerns are dispersed (7); his heart finds no place where it may settle.
(1) Al-Tabari relates, with his chain of transmission, that Abdullah ibn Rawaha, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Messenger of Allah: “Stipulate for your Lord and for yourself whatever you wish.” He said: “For my Lord, I stipulate that you worship Him and associate nothing with Him; and for myself, I stipulate that you protect me as you protect yourselves and your property.” They asked, “If we do so, what will be ours?” He replied: “Paradise.” They said, “A profitable bargain: we shall neither rescind it nor seek its rescission.” Then the verse was revealed: “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers...” [al-Tawbah 9:111].
Tafsir al-Tabari, 14:499, no. 17270.
(2) Manuscript B reads: “and the contract is conducted through the hand of His Messenger.” Manuscript C omits the passage from “and His intimate friend and chosen one” to “His Messenger [in] the contract.”
(3) The passage from “and neglects it” to “the greatest loss” is omitted from manuscript C.
(4) The phrase “This loss only becomes apparent to him” is omitted from manuscript B.
(5) “Exorbitant” is omitted from manuscript C.
(6) “Complete [joy], happiness, and delight” is omitted from manuscript C.
(7) “His concerns are scattered” is omitted from manuscript C.