Rather, this resembles the words of someone in a state of spiritual intoxication or self-effacement who has tasted the sweetness of contentment within himself and imagines that it will remain with him whatever his condition. This is a grave error on his part, like the error of Sumnūn discussed earlier.

If he means that he does not ask for enjoyment of created things, but instead asks for something higher, then he has erred in two respects. First, he has failed to count what he seeks as part of Paradise, although it is the highest bliss of Paradise. Second, he has acknowledged that he is asking while also being content. If contentment does not conflict with this request, neither does it conflict with another request when he needs what he seeks.

It is well known that his delight in beholding Allah cannot be complete unless he is safe from the Fire and enjoys the lesser delights of Paradise. Whatever is indispensable to attaining what one seeks is itself sought. Thus, his request to behold Allah includes a request for its necessary prerequisites, among them deliverance from the Fire. His contentment therefore does not conflict with seeking to obtain benefit or avert harm, nor with seeking Paradise and protection from the Fire, nor with seeking anything else necessary for beholding Allah. The contradiction in his statement is thus clear.

Furthermore, if he neither asks Allah for Paradise nor seeks refuge in Him from the Fire, then either he asks Allah for something less than that which he needs, such as securing a benefit or warding off