he assumes that Paradise denotes a place where one enjoys created things, and that the Fire denotes a place where there is no torment other than pain inflicted by created things. This reflects their deficient understanding of what Paradise encompasses. Rather, everything Allah has prepared for His allies belongs to Paradise, including looking upon Him. Hence, the best of creation used to ask Allah for Paradise and seek His protection from the Fire. When he asked one of his Companions what he said in his prayer, the man replied:

“I ask Allah for Paradise and seek Allah’s protection from the Fire. But I am not adept at your murmured supplications or those of Mu‘ādh.” He replied, “That is what our supplications revolve around.”

A group of speculative theologians objected to anyone who uttered these words—meaning, “I ask You for the pleasure of looking upon Your Face”—because they supposed that no pleasure could be taken in looking upon Allah, and that bliss could only come through something created. These people misunderstood the meaning of Paradise, just as the others did. Yet the others sought what deserves to be sought, whereas these people denied it.

As for suffering pain in the Fire, this is inevitable. Whoever says, “Were He to cast me into the Fire, I would be content,” is expressing his resolve to remain content. Yet resolves may crumble when confronted with reality. Statements of this kind occur in the words of various people, such as Sumnūn, who said:

“I have no wish for anything but You;
so test me however You will.”

He was then afflicted with difficulty urinating and began going around to schoolchildren, saying, “Pray for your lying uncle.”

Allah Most High says:

“You certainly longed for death before you encountered it. Now you have seen it with your own eyes.”