What is under discussion is love for others that is not for the sake of Allah, Most High. This is undoubtedly a deficiency in devoting one’s love exclusively to Allah, and it indicates deficient love for Him: if one’s love for Him were complete, one would love none besides Him. The first kind of love mentioned does not contradict this, for it is included in loving Him.

Here is a measure that does not wrong you: the stronger a servant’s love for his Lord becomes, the less significant and fewer the objects of his love become. The weaker that love becomes, the more numerous and varied its objects become. The same applies to fear, hope, and similar matters. If a servant’s fear of his Lord is complete, he fears nothing besides Him. Allah, Most High, says:

“Those who convey Allah’s messages and fear Him, and fear none but Allah.”

When his fear of Allah diminishes, he fears created beings. His fear of them varies according to the decrease or increase in his fear of Allah, as we have explained concerning love. The same applies to hope and other such matters. This is the hidden association of partners with Allah from which scarcely anyone escapes except those whom Allah, Most High, protects. It has been reported that the association of partners with Allah within this community is more hidden than the creeping of ants. The way to free oneself from all these maladies is sincere devotion to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah, Most High, says:

“So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous deeds and associate no one in the worship of his Lord.”

Sincere devotion is attained only after renunciation, and there is no renunciation without piety. Piety consists in obeying the commands and observing the prohibitions.