and warding off what the True One hates. If the servant neglects whatever jihad lies within his capacity, this indicates the weakness of his love for Allah and His Messenger in his heart.

It is well known that what one loves generally cannot be attained without enduring what one dislikes, whether that love is sound or corrupt. Those who love wealth, authority, and physical beauty attain their goals only by suffering harm in this world, besides the harm that befalls them in this world and the Hereafter. Thus, if someone who loves Allah and His Messenger does not endure the hardships that discerning lovers of things other than Allah consider necessary and themselves endure to attain what they love, this indicates weakness in their love for Allah—provided that the course those others follow is one that reason recommends. It is well known that the believer is stronger in his love for Allah. As the Most High says:

“Among people are those who take others besides Allah as equals, loving them as they love Allah.”

Admittedly, a lover may, through poor judgment and a flawed understanding, follow a path that does not lead to the desired goal. Such a path is not commendable when the love itself is sound and praiseworthy; how much less so when the love is corrupt and the path does not lead to the goal! This is what reckless seekers of wealth, authority, and physical beauty do in loving things that bring them harm without securing what they seek. What is meant here is only the paths that reason follows to attain its goal.

Once this is clear, the more the heart grows in love for Allah, the more it grows in servitude to Him; and the more it grows in servitude to Him, the more it grows in love for Him and in freedom from everything besides Him. The heart is inherently in need