The point here is that those among the Muʿtazilah and their sympathizers who adopt Jahmī doctrines and deny the reality of love must consequently deny the delight of looking upon Allah. Thus, for them, there is in reality no bliss beyond eating, drinking, and similar pleasures. This view is false according to the Quran, the Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations of this community and its spiritual masters. This is one of the two mistaken parties.

The second party consists of certain groups of Sufis, religious mendicants, and ascetic devotees. They agreed with the former that love concerns nothing beyond these things in which created beings find enjoyment. Yet they agreed with the early generations and the leading scholars in affirming the vision of Allah and the delight of looking upon Him—and in this they were correct. They came to seek this bliss, their aspirations rising towards it, and to fear being deprived of it. Thus, one of them would say: “I have not worshipped You out of longing for Your Paradise or fear of Your Fire, but