seeking benefit for yourself from him, for this is not his primary aim, nor is he able to provide it. Do not let this lead you to treat people harshly, or to cease showing them kindness and patiently bearing the harm they cause. Rather, show them kindness for Allah’s sake, not because you place your hope in them. Just as you should not fear them, neither should you place your hope in them. Fear Allah in your dealings with people, and do not fear people in fulfilling your duty to Allah. Place your hope in Allah in your dealings with people, and do not place your hope in people in fulfilling your duty to Allah.
Be among those of whom Allah said:
“The most righteous will be kept away from it—he who gives his wealth to purify himself, not to repay anyone for a favour done to him, but only seeking the Face of his Lord, the Most High.”
He also said of them:
“We feed you only for the sake of Allah. We desire neither reward nor thanks from you.”
The seventh consideration:
Most people seek to fulfil their needs through you, even if this harms you. A person in need is blind to everything but satisfying that need.
The eighth consideration:
If some harm befalls you, such as fear, hunger or illness, created beings cannot ward it off except by Allah’s permission, nor do they seek to ward it off except to serve some purpose of their own.
The ninth consideration:
If created beings strove to benefit you, they could benefit you only with something Allah had already decreed for you. If they strove to harm you, they could harm you only with something Allah had already decreed against you. They can neither benefit nor harm you except by Allah’s permission, so do not place your hope in them.
Allah Most High said:
“Who is there to serve as an army for you, to help you besides the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are only in delusion. Or who is there to provide for you if He withholds His provision? Yet they persist in insolence and aversion.”
Help encompasses warding off harm, while provision encompasses obtaining benefit.