likewise has hope and fear, hoping for His mercy and fearing His punishment. Thus every worshipper is a petitioner, and every petitioner is a worshipper.

Either term encompasses the other when used alone. When they are used together, however, “petitioner” means someone who seeks to obtain benefit and avert harm through expressions of request and petition, while “worshipper” means someone who seeks this by obeying the command, even without using expressions of petition.

The worshipper who seeks Allah’s Face and to look upon Him likewise has hope and fear, longing and dread: he longs to attain what he seeks and dreads missing it. Allah Most High says:

“Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and call upon Us in hope and fear.”

And Allah Most High says:

“Their sides forsake their beds, calling upon their Lord in fear and hope.”

It is inconceivable that anyone who calls upon Allah—whether through worship or petition—should be without longing and dread, fear and hope. As for the reported statement of some spiritual masters that fear and hope belong to the spiritual stations of ordinary believers, their intention may be understood as follows: those brought near to Allah seek His Face, aiming to delight in looking upon Him, even if there is no created thing there from which they derive pleasure. These people hope to attain what they seek and fear being deprived of it. Thus they are not without fear and hope; rather, what they hope for and fear corresponds to what they seek.

As for anyone among them who says:

“I have not worshipped You out of longing for Your Paradise or fear of Your Fire,”