As for that man and others like him residing on Mount Lebanon at that time, Mount Lebanon and similar places were Muslim frontier posts, situated along the coast near the Christians, like Ascalon, Alexandria, and other frontier posts. Righteous Muslims would reside at these posts to keep watch in Allah’s cause. Whatever reports speak of the merit of these places relate to the merit of keeping watch in Allah’s cause. But after the Christians, Qarmatians, and Rāfidīs gained control over them, that merit no longer remained, and none of the righteous resided there during those times. Our religion does not prescribe living in deserts and mountains except when fleeing trials that threaten one’s faith. Someone residing in a town would take refuge there when his faith was threatened, migrating to a place where it would not be put to trial. For the true emigrant is one who abandons what Allah has forbidden. We have discussed this at length elsewhere.

I say: It has thus become clear that by the jealousy of the True One they mean something like what the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, described: His jealousy lest His servant commit what He has forbidden. They include within this unnecessary indulgence in permissible things that He does not love. They may also mean His jealousy over the spiritual experiences and gifts He grants His allies, lest He bestow them where they do not belong. Thus, they sometimes relate jealousy to His commands and prohibitions, and sometimes to His decree and predestination.