is predominant, together with their speaking of these things, are more evident than their awareness or mention of the delights found in loving Allah and His Messenger and gazing upon Him, even though these delights are present within them. For something’s existence is distinct from being aware of it, speaking of it, and its becoming apparent. Thus, Allah mentioned in His Book such manifest pleasures as eating, drinking, and sexual relations—things everyone recognizes as pleasurable, which every soul longs for, and which they know are desirable. Yet these can only be attained through worshipping Allah and obeying Him.

When they worship Allah, they may experience a sweetness in knowing Him and worshipping Him that surpasses those pleasures. When the veil is lifted in the Hereafter and they gaze upon Him, that will be dearer to them than everything He has given them. Thus, encouraging them to worship through those pleasures drew them towards this greater delight. This is like someone who embraced Islam seeking worldly gain, yet before sunset Islam became dearer to him than everything upon which the sun had risen. Or like someone who pursued knowledge and religion out of a desire for wealth or status, or fear of dismissal, punishment, or the seizure of his wealth; then, when he tasted the sweetness of knowledge and faith, this became dearer to him than everything upon which the sun had risen.

If this is so in this world, what must it be like in the Hereafter?

Once you understand this, you will understand two things:

The first is that every believer whose faith is truly established worships Allah alone, and Allah is dearer to him than everything else, even if he does not perceive this within