he perceives the beloved object itself, pleasure and joy follow, accompanying that perception.

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

“O Allah, I ask You for the pleasure of looking upon Your Face and the longing to meet You, without harmful affliction or a trial that leads astray.”

And in the authentic hadith:

“When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, a caller will announce, ‘O people of Paradise, Allah has made you a promise that He wishes to fulfil for you.’ They will say, ‘What is it? Has He not brightened our faces, made our scales heavy, admitted us to Paradise, and protected us from the Fire?’ He said: ‘Then He will lift the veil, and they will look upon Him. Nothing He has given them will be dearer to them than looking upon Him.’”

Narrated by Muslim and others. Pleasure thus accompanies looking upon Him. Nothing is dearer to them than looking upon Him because of the pleasure that accompanies it—not because looking itself is pleasure.

In sum, faith in the heart must include believing in Allah and His Messenger and loving Allah and His Messenger. Mere belief accompanied by hatred of Allah and His Messenger and hostility towards Allah and His Messenger is not faith, by the consensus of the Muslims. Mere belief and knowledge do not necessarily entail love unless the heart is free of obstacles such as envy and pride, for the soul is naturally disposed to love the truth, which accords with its nature. Nothing is dearer to sound hearts than Allah. This is pure monotheism, the religion of Abraham, peace be upon him, whom Allah took as an intimate friend.

Allah Most High said:

“On the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit, except to one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”

Thus, mere