he disliked in them. Thus, he gave for Allah’s sake and withheld for Allah’s sake. He said:

“Whoever loves for Allah’s sake, hates for Allah’s sake, gives for Allah’s sake and withholds for Allah’s sake has perfected his faith.”

Sahīh al-Bukhārī records that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“By Allah, I am only a distributor. I neither give to anyone nor withhold from anyone; rather, I allocate as I am commanded.”

The image of the beloved represented within the soul stirs the lover to action. For its sake he desires, loves and hates, and he feels delight and gladness whenever it is mentioned, whatever kind of image it may be. It thus becomes like someone who commands and forbids him. Hence, he feels inwardly as though it addresses him with commands, prohibitions and other speech, just as many people see someone they love and revere in their dreams, commanding them, forbidding them and telling them things. Devils appear to the polytheists in the forms of those they worship, commanding and forbidding them.

Those who espouse the notion of the shāhid (the contemplated figure) and profess to follow the spiritual path may claim that they are addressed inwardly through the shāhid’s tongue. Some pray at night with that person opposite them so that they can contemplate him in the light. Others contemplate him in another person during devotional listening. They imagine that they are being addressed and thereby experience an increase within their hearts. This happens because they represent him within themselves. The devil may also appear in his form, so that they experience inward speech coming from that image and say, “We have been addressed by him.” Although this does occur within