too numerous to mention here. They have discussed the diseases and misconceptions that afflict hearts, and how someone may behold the existence of created things and mistake it for the Creator of the earth and the heavens, because his heart lacks discernment and the ability to distinguish. He is like someone who sees the sun’s rays and imagines them to be the sun itself in the sky.

They also speak of “distinction and collectedness,” using striking expressions similar to those used in discussing annihilation. When a servant perceives the diversity and multiplicity of created things, his heart remains attached to them and scattered among them, attending to them and clinging to them through love, fear, or hope. When he moves to collectedness, his heart becomes wholly focused on affirming Allah’s oneness and worshipping Him alone, without partner. His heart turns to Allah after having turned to created beings: his love is now for his Lord, his fear is of his Lord, his hope rests in his Lord, and he seeks his Lord’s help. In this state, his heart may have no room to consider created beings so as to distinguish between the Creator and creation. He may thus be wholly focused on the Truth, turning away from creation in both attention and intention. This resembles the second kind of annihilation.

Beyond this, however, comes the “second distinction”: to perceive that created things are sustained by Allah and governed by His command, and to perceive their multiplicity as negated by the oneness of Allah, glorified and exalted be He; and that He, glorified be He, is the Lord, God, Creator, and Owner of all created things. Thus, while his heart is wholly focused on Allah—through sincere devotion to Him, love, fear, hope, seeking His help, placing his trust in Allah, and loyalty for His sake