a god other than Allah that the heart worships, the heart becomes corrupt and is ruined beyond repair. Without Allah’s help in this, the heart cannot be set right. There is neither power nor strength except through Him, and there is no refuge or escape from Him except with Him.

For this reason, it is reported that Allah revealed one hundred and four books, gathered their knowledge into the four Books, and gathered the four Books into the Quran. He gathered the knowledge of the Quran into the Mufassal section, the knowledge of the Mufassal into the Opening of the Book, and the knowledge of the Opening of the Book into His words:

“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”

Similar to this are His words:

“So worship Him and put your trust in Him.”

And His words:

“In Him I put my trust, and to Him I turn.”

And His words:

“Whoever fears Allah, He will make a way out for him and provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.”

Allah Most High has also said:

“I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

For this reason, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and its pinnacle is jihad in the cause of Allah.”

A full explanation of this would be lengthy and is beyond the scope of this discussion.

As for removing the impediment, this requires striving to ward off whatever preoccupies the heart, such as thinking about matters that do not concern one and dwelling on the attractions that draw the heart away from the purpose of prayer. This varies according to each servant’s circumstances. The abundance of intrusive thoughts corresponds to the abundance of doubts and desires, and to the heart’s attachment to things it loves, which turn it toward pursuing them, and things it dislikes, which turn it toward warding them off.