tranquillity and stillness; hence water is described as yaqan. Likewise, one says, “He became unsettled,” or, “He unsettled him, and he became unsettled,” meaning that he disturbed him. This is said both of someone whose soul becomes restless and of someone who becomes restless in soul and body until he leaves his place.

Likewise, one says, “His soul became restless,” or, “His soul became agitated,” and uses similar expressions denoting various kinds of movement. Whatever human beings find familiar and love is called a source of repose, because they find rest in it. One says, “So-and-so finds rest and reassurance in so-and-so.” Likewise, one says, “The heart finds rest and reassurance in so-and-so,” when that person is trustworthy and known for truthfulness, for truthfulness brings tranquillity and stillness.

A wife, too, is called a source of repose. Allah Most High says:

“He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find rest in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy.”

He also says:

“And He made from it its mate, so that he might find rest in her.”

Thus, a man finds rest in a woman with both his heart and his body. A person’s body may be still while his soul is moving vigorously; conversely, his heart may be still while his body is moving. Someone who loves a thing and longs for it is described as moving towards it. Hence the saying, “Passionate love is the movement of an unoccupied soul.”

Hearts move towards Allah Most High through love, turning to Him in repentance, directing themselves towards Him, and other acts of the heart, even though the body is not moving upwards. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The closest a servant comes to his Lord is while he is prostrating.”

Yet his body is then at its lowest. It should therefore be understood that movement is a genus encompassing different kinds, which vary according to the things described as moving. The will, love, aversion, inclination, and similar attributes ascribed to the human soul