and His pleasure in them, His hatred of what He has forbidden and of the disbelievers, and His wrath and loathing toward them. They also acknowledge what has been widely reported from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:
“Allah rejoices more at the repentance of His repentant servant than a man who lost his mount, carrying his food and drink, in a desolate, deadly wilderness. He searched for it but could not find it, then took a midday nap beneath a tree. When he awoke, there was his mount with his food and drink upon it! Allah rejoices more at His servant’s repentance than this man rejoices at recovering his mount.”
He is their God whom they worship and their Lord whom they ask, as Allah Most High says:
“All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds,”
through to His words:
“You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”
Thus, He is the One worshipped and the One whose help is sought. Worship combines perfect love with perfect humility.
They love Him more deeply than any lover loves their beloved, as Allah Most High says:
“Yet among people are those who take others as equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”
Whatever else they love, they love only for His sake. As reported in the two Sahīh collections, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Whoever possesses three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than everything else; that he loves someone only for Allah’s sake; and that he hates returning to disbelief, after Allah has saved him from it, as much as he hates being thrown into the Fire.”
In al-Tirmidhī and elsewhere, it is reported:
“The firmest bonds of faith are love for Allah’s sake and hatred for Allah’s sake. Whoever loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake, and withholds for Allah’s sake has perfected his faith.”
He, glorified be He, loves His believing servants. The perfection of love is intimate friendship, which Allah bestowed upon Abraham and Muhammad, may Allah bless them both and grant them peace. For Allah took Abraham as an intimate friend. And it has been widely reported