being subject to religious obligation, not for attaining felicity; thus, its absence does no harm. The light within the breast prevents one from desiring anything else.

Then, his words:

“the springtime of my heart and the light of my breast”

are explained by the fact—and Allah knows best—that rain does not extend beyond where it falls; rather, when spring rain falls upon a land, it brings it to life. Light, however, radiates beyond its source. Since the breast contains the heart, he placed the springtime in the heart and the light in the breast because its radiance spreads, as illustrated by the niche in His words:

“The likeness of His light is that of a niche in which there is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass”—which is the heart.