and for this reason he says in prayer:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.” (Surah al-Fātihah, 5)

Allah said, “This verse is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.”

And on this basis—on this basis, Abū Yazīd’s statement, “I desire not to desire,” is understood: “I desire not to desire independently or for my own sake; rather, I desire only what You have commanded me to desire.” As for having no will whatsoever, this is naturally impossible, and seeking it is forbidden by religious law. Whoever affirms this is unsound in both reason and religion.

Whoever desires all events, whether commanded or forbidden, disbelieves in Allah’s religion and in what His messengers brought. But whoever desires what he has been commanded to desire and do, and dislikes what he has been forbidden, is the believer who affirms Allah’s oneness.

If, by his statement, “The one who affirms Allah’s oneness witnesses no jealous concern and exercises no choice,” he means that such a person chooses absolutely nothing, whether commanded or forbidden, then, besides being contrary to reality and rationally unsound, this constitutes one of the gravest departures from Allah’s religion. For he must desire everything Allah Most High loves, approves for him, and loves for him, and seek Allah’s help in willing it and acting upon it. Indeed, there is no power nor strength except through Him.

Thus the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say:

“O Turner of hearts, keep our hearts steadfast upon Your religion.”