And the basic meaning of “worship” is likewise humility. A path is called mu‘abbad (well-trodden) when it has been worn smooth underfoot. Yet the worship that is commanded encompasses both humility and love: it entails the utmost humility before Allah together with the utmost love for Him. The final degree of love is “consummation.” Its first degree is “attachment,” because the heart becomes attached to the beloved; then comes “yearning,” because the heart pours itself towards the beloved; then “abiding love,” which remains firmly in the heart; then “passionate love”; and finally “consummation.” The expression Taym Allāh means “Allah’s servant”; thus, one utterly enamoured is enslaved to his beloved.

Whoever submits to someone while hating him is not worshipping him. Likewise, someone who loves something without submitting to it is not worshipping it, as with the love one may have for one’s child or friend. Hence, neither love nor humility alone suffices in worshipping Allah Most High. Rather, Allah must be dearer to His servant than everything else, and greater in his estimation than everything else. Indeed, none but Allah deserves perfect love and utter humility. Whatever is loved for other than Allah’s sake is loved in a corrupt manner, and whatever is venerated without Allah’s command is venerated falsely.

Allah Most High says:

“Say, ‘If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, your clan, wealth you have acquired, trade whose decline you fear, and homes you cherish are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His command.’”

Love, in its general sense, may therefore be directed to Allah and His Messenger, as may obedience; for obedience is due to Allah and His Messenger