so whatever does not come about through Him cannot come about, for there is no power or strength except through Him; and whatever is not for His sake neither benefits nor endures. As the Most High says:

“And We will turn to whatever deeds they have done and make them scattered dust.”
Al-Furqān: 23.

And He says:

“The deeds of those who disbelieve in their Lord are like ashes swept fiercely by the wind on a stormy day. They will have no power over anything they have earned.”
Ibrāhīm: 18.

He, glorified be He, loves His servants who love Him, and what is loved for another’s sake is all the more worthy of being loved.

When we love something for Allah’s sake, He is the true object of our love, while our love for that thing is secondary. We love those who love Allah because they love Him; and Allah Most High loves those who love Him. He therefore deserves to be the One loved, adored, and worshipped, and the ultimate end of all love. How could it be otherwise, when He, glorified be He, praises and extols Himself and loves to be praised by His creatures?

As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said in an authentic hadith:

“No one loves praise more than Allah.”

Al-Aswad ibn Sarīʿ said to him, “O Messenger