We have made you a successor on earth, so judge between people in truth and do not follow desire, lest it lead you astray from Allah’s path.” And other similar passages. For the original natural disposition with which people are created, when free from corruption, follows and loves the truth whenever it recognizes it.

Truth is of two kinds:

An existing reality, which one must know and report truthfully. The opposites of this are ignorance and falsehood. And a good to be sought—namely, that which benefits a person—which one must desire and act upon. The opposite of this is to desire and follow falsehood. It is well known that Allah has created within souls a love of knowledge rather than ignorance, truthfulness rather than falsehood, and what is beneficial rather than what is harmful. Whenever the opposite arises, it is because of a counteracting influence, such as desire, arrogance, envy, or the like.

Likewise, in a healthy body, Allah has created a love of food and drink suited to it rather than what harms it. If it craves what harms it or dislikes what benefits it, this is due to an illness in the body. Similarly, when the counteracting influences of desire, arrogance, envy, and the like are removed from the soul, the heart loves what benefits it of beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds, just as