is ignorant, and everyone who repents before death has repented soon afterward.’”

Al-Khallāl narrated from Abū Hayyān al-Taymī that he said:

“Scholars are of three kinds: one who knows Allah but does not know Allah’s commands; one who knows Allah’s commands but does not know Allah; and one who knows both Allah and His commands. The one who knows Allah is the one who fears Him, while the one who knows Allah’s commands is the one who knows what He commands and forbids.”

I say: Reverent fear prevents one from following desire. Allah Most High says:

“But as for he who feared standing before his Lord and restrained himself from desire, Paradise will indeed be his refuge.”

Perfection in freedom from desire and in knowledge belongs to the Seal of the Messengers, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, concerning whom Allah said:

“By the star when it descends, your companion has neither gone astray nor erred. Nor does he speak from desire. It is nothing but revelation revealed.”

He thus declared him free of misguidance and error, and described him as one who does not speak from desire: it is nothing but revelation revealed. He thereby negated desire and affirmed perfect knowledge, namely revelation. This is perfection of knowledge, and the former is perfection of intent. May Allah bless him and grant him peace.

He described his enemies as possessing the opposite of these two qualities. Allah Most High says:

“They follow nothing but conjecture and what their souls desire, although guidance has already come to them from their Lord.”

Thus, absolute human perfection consists in perfecting one’s servitude to Allah in both knowledge and intent.

Allah Most High says:

“And I did not create