Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—said:

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My father told me, on the authority of Muhyī al-Dīn ibn al-Nahhās—and I believe I also heard it from him directly—that he saw Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir in a dream, relating these words from the Truth, Most High:

“Whoever comes to Us, We meet him from afar. Whoever acts through Our might, We soften iron for him. Whoever follows Our will, We will what he wishes. Whoever gives something up for Our sake, We give him more than abundance itself.”

I said: These words are spoken from the Lord’s perspective, blessed and exalted is He. The first two statements concern worship and seeking help; the last two concern obedience and disobedience. Going to Allah means worshipping Him alone, as He, Most High, said:

“Whoever draws near to Me by a handspan, I draw near to him by a forearm’s length. Whoever draws near to Me by a forearm’s length, I draw near to him by an armspan. Whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him at a run.”

Drawing near through His might means seeking His help and placing one’s trust in Him, for there is no might and no