they agreed with these people that Paradise consists only of these things in which created beings take pleasure. Yet they agreed with the early generations and the imams in affirming the vision of Allah and the delight of looking upon Him, and in this they were correct. They began seeking this bliss, their aspirations rising towards it, and fearing that they might miss it. One of them would say:

“I have not worshipped You out of longing for Your Paradise or fear of Your Fire, but to look upon You and out of reverence for You.”

They used other similar expressions. What they intend by this is something higher than eating, drinking, and enjoying created things. But they erred in excluding it from Paradise. They may also err in supposing that they worship Allah without any personal benefit or desire, and that anything sought from Him is a gratification of the self. They imagined that a human being could act without any desire, any object sought, or anything loved. This reflects a poor understanding of the true nature of faith, religion, and the Hereafter.

The reason for this is that a person’s aspiration, attached to the One he seeks, loves, and worships, makes him oblivious to himself, until he is no longer conscious of himself or his own desire. He then supposes that he acts for something other than what he desires, whereas what is sought and holds his aspiration is the ultimate object of his desire, pursuit, and love.

This resembles the condition of many righteous and sincere people and those who experience spiritual states and attain spiritual stations. One of them may have a genuine spiritual experience and sound inward perception, yet lack the words to express himself clearly. Consequently, his speech contains error and a lack of due reverence, despite the soundness of his intent—although, for some people, the error also affects their intent and belief.

Thus, if those who spoke in this way meant by it to seek the vision of Allah