such kinds of evil and corruption as none but the Lord of all servants can enumerate, even if he avoids committing the grave act of sexual immorality. For the heart’s persistent attachment to that person, even without committing sexual immorality, is more harmful to him than committing a sin and then repenting of it until its traces disappear from his heart. Such people are likened to the intoxicated and the insane.

As it has been said:

“Two intoxications: the intoxication of passion and that of wine—
When will someone gripped by both regain his senses?”

And it has been said:

“They said, ‘You have gone mad over the one you love.’ I replied,
‘Passion is worse than the madness of the insane.
One stricken by passion never regains his senses throughout his life,
Whereas the madman is seized only from time to time.’”

One of the greatest causes of this affliction is the heart’s turning away from Allah. Once the heart tastes the sweetness of worshipping Allah and being sincerely devoted to Him, nothing is ever sweeter, more delightful, or more pleasant to it. A person gives up something he loves only for something else he loves more, or out of fear of something unwelcome. Thus, the heart turns away from corrupt love only through wholesome love or fear of harm.