“Allah says: ‘Whoever draws near to Me a handspan, I draw near to him an arm’s length. Whoever draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I come to him running.’”

And in an authentic hadith:

“I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me.”

It is established that every blessing from Allah Most High is grace, and every punishment from Him is justice. His wisdom, mercy, and justice have been demonstrated in ways that astound the mind. This matter touches upon major foundational questions concerning divine decree, command, promise, threat, and the divine names and attributes, which have been discussed at length elsewhere.

The purpose here is to discuss what has been related from these shaykhs. The statement, “You neither give them hope of attainment, so that they might find rest, nor make them despair of seeking, so that they might find rest,” describes a passing state experienced by someone whose aspirations have become attached to a particular object, leaving him wavering between despair and hope. This is a blameworthy state, for the servant should not stipulate a particular thing for Allah to grant him. Rather, his aspiration should be to do what is commanded, refrain from what is forbidden, and patiently bear what is decreed.

Once he is helped to accomplish these three things, there will follow desired blessings that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived.

Even if his aspiration becomes attached to something and he asks Allah for it, Allah grants him one of three things: He either answers his supplication promptly, stores up an equivalent good for him, or averts an equivalent evil from him.

The term “attainment” is ambiguous, for every wayfarer has a goal