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As for the statement, “Allah is pleased when the spiritual masters are pleased and angry when they are angry,” this does not apply to all spiritual masters, nor is it exclusive to them. Rather, whoever is in accord with Allah—pleased with what pleases Allah and angered by what angers Allah—Allah is pleased when he is pleased and angry when he is angry, whether he is a spiritual master or someone else. Any spiritual master who is not like this does not possess this quality.

An example is what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, following an exchange between him and Suhayb, Khabbāb, Bilāl, and others concerning Abū Sufyān ibn Harb. Abū Sufyān had passed by them, and they said:

“The swords have not taken their full toll on Allah’s enemy.”

Abū Bakr said, “Do you say this about the chief of Quraysh?” He then went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and told him what had happened. The Prophet said:

“Perhaps you have angered them, Abū Bakr. If you have angered them, you have indeed angered your Lord”—or words to that effect.

The narrator said: Abū Bakr then went out to them and asked, “My brothers, have I angered you?”

They replied, “No; may Allah forgive you, Abū Bakr.”

Their anger was for Allah’s sake.

In Sahīh al-Bukhārī, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is reported to have said:

“He says