not giving him over to created beings, but withholding him from them; and the servant’s protective jealousy for the Truth, which consists in devoting none of his states or breaths to anything other than the Truth. Thus, one should not say, ‘I am jealous over Allah,’ but rather, ‘I am jealous for Allah’s sake.’ For jealousy over Allah is ignorance and may lead to abandoning religion, whereas jealousy for Allah’s sake entails honouring His rights and making one’s deeds purely for Him.”

These are sound words, but they employ a later terminology, not the earlier terminology. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained that Allah’s protective jealousy is aroused when a believer does what He has forbidden him. This applies alike to those foremost in good deeds and those who take a moderate course: they are Allah’s allies, who shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve. Those foremost in good deeds, however, devote all their deeds to Allah, for they continually draw near to Him through voluntary acts of worship until He loves them. Whoever loves Allah, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for Allah’s sake has perfected his faith. When He protects them from acting for anyone other than Him, so that all their deeds are devoted to Allah, they abandon forbidden things and perform both obligatory and recommended acts.

He has likened their being kept free from excess in permissible things and from committing disliked acts