regard the protective indignation with which Allah has described Himself, in which His Messenger was more perfect than anyone else, and which Allah has enjoined and loves, as belonging to the practice of spiritual aspirants but not to people of spiritual realization. Rather, he means what these later writers conventionally call “protective indignation,” as we explained earlier: indignation involving rivalry and envy, such as when someone becomes jealous upon seeing another precede him in reaching the Truth or receive an abundant share from Him, and the like. This is exceedingly common among those travelling the spiritual path. The shaykh therefore said that such jealousy arises in spiritual aspirants because they have not yet witnessed the realities or recognized that Allah alone gives and withholds. As for people of spiritual realization, who witness that Allah alone gives and withholds and that there is no Lord besides Him, they do not feel jealous of the commendable or permissible gifts Allah bestows upon His servants. Nor do they resent events, as some people do when they revile time.

As is established in an authentic hadith, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Do not revile time, for Allah is Time. All affairs are in His hand; He alternates night and day.”

He also said: “Allah Most High says: ‘The son of Adam offends Me: he reviles time, yet I am Time. All affairs are in My hand; I alternate night and day.’”