do?”
“Greatly hateful in the sight of Allah is that you say what you do not do.”
“Indeed, Allah loves those who fight in His cause in ranks as though they were a solidly joined structure.”
Al-Tirmidhī reports: “Some of the Companions said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘If we knew which deed was most beloved to Allah, we would do it.’ Then Allah Most High revealed this verse.”
Allah Most High also said:
“Have you not seen those who were told, ‘Restrain your hands, establish prayer, and give zakah’? But when fighting was prescribed for them, a group of them feared people as they feared Allah, or even more. They said, ‘Our Lord, why have You prescribed fighting for us? If only You had granted us a little more time!’” To the end of the verse.
These people had resolved to fight and had desired it, yet when they were tested with it, they disliked it and fled from it. How can the pain of fighting compare with the pain of the Fire and Allah’s punishment, which no one can bear?
Similar to this is what they relate about Sumnūn al-Muhibb, who used to say:
“I desire nothing but You;
So test me however You will.”
He was immediately afflicted with distress—that is, he was unable to pass urine. He would go around the schools, handing out walnuts to the children and saying, “Pray for your lying uncle.”
Abū Nuʿaym al-Asbahānī related from Abū Bakr al-Wāsitī that Sumnūn said, “My Lord, I am content with whatever You decree for me.” He was then unable to pass urine for fourteen days, writhing like a snake, twisting to the right and left. Then, when