of whomever you wish, and you will be his equal; give generously to whomever you wish, and you will be his master; be in need of whomever you wish, and you will be his captive.”

Likewise, a servant’s longing for his Lord’s bounty and his hope in Him bring him into servitude to Him. His heart’s turning away from asking anyone other than Allah, and from placing hope in Him, causes his heart to turn away from servitude to Allah. This is especially so of someone who places his hopes in created beings rather than the Creator: his heart relies either on his authority, troops, followers, and slaves; on his family and friends; on his wealth and reserves; or on his masters and dignitaries—such as his owner, king, shaykh, patron, and others who have already died or will die.

Allah Most High says:

“And put your trust in the Ever-Living, who does not die, and glorify Him with praise. Sufficient is He as One fully aware of His servants’ sins.”

Whoever attaches his heart to created beings, expecting them to help him, provide for him, or guide him, becomes inwardly submissive to them. His heart becomes enslaved to them in proportion to that attachment, even if outwardly he is their ruler, directing their affairs and exercising authority over them. A sensible person looks at realities, not appearances.

When a man’s heart becomes attached to a woman, even one lawful for him, his heart remains her captive: she rules it and controls it as she wishes. Outwardly, he is her master because he is her husband, but in reality he is her captive and slave. This is especially so if she knows how much he needs her, how passionately he loves her, and that he would accept no other woman in her place. She then rules him as an overpowering, unjust master rules his subjugated slave, who cannot escape