—distressed when adversity befalls him, and withholding when good comes his way.

The other kind comprises things a person does not need. He should not attach his heart to these, for if he does, he becomes enslaved to them. He may even come to rely on other than Allah, so that he no longer truly worships Allah or truly relies upon Him. Rather, he has within him an element of worshipping other than Allah and an element of relying upon other than Allah. He is among those to whom the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, most aptly apply:

“May the slave of the dirham come to ruin! May the slave of the dinar come to ruin! May the slave of the plush cloak come to ruin! May the slave of the patterned cloak come to ruin!”

Such a person is enslaved to these things, even if he asks Allah for them: if Allah grants them to him, he is pleased; if He withholds them, he is displeased. The true servant of Allah, however, is one who is pleased by what pleases Allah and displeased by what displeases Allah; who loves what Allah and His Messenger love and hates what Allah and His Messenger hate; and who allies himself with Allah’s allies and opposes Allah’s enemies. Such a person has perfected his faith, as stated in the hadith:

“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 also said:

“The firmest bonds of faith are love for Allah’s sake and hatred for Allah’s sake.”

An authentic report from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, states:

“Whoever possesses three qualities will taste the sweetness of faith: that Allah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else; that he loves a person solely for Allah’s sake; and that he abhors returning to disbelief after Allah has saved him from it just as he abhors being cast into the Fire.”

Thus, this person is in accord with his Lord in what He loves and what