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It is necessary to explain the principle by which hearts move towards Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and hold fast to Him, so that their maladies diminish or disappear altogether through Allah’s might and power.
Know that three things move hearts towards Allah, Mighty and Majestic: love, fear, and hope. The strongest of these is love. It is sought for its own sake, for it is desired both in this world and in the Hereafter, unlike fear, which ceases in the Hereafter. Allah, Most High, says:
“Indeed, the friends of Allah will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.”
The purpose of fear is to restrain a person and prevent him from straying from the path. Love moves the servant along his journey towards his beloved, and his progress towards Him corresponds to the weakness or strength of that love. Fear prevents him from straying from the path to his beloved, while hope leads him onward. This is a fundamental principle to which every servant must pay attention, for he cannot attain servitude to Allah without it. Everyone must be a servant of Allah, not of anyone else.
If it is asked, “At times, a servant may lack the love that impels him to seek his beloved. What, then, moves hearts?” we answer: two things move them.
The first is frequent remembrance of the beloved, for remembering Him frequently attaches hearts to Him. This is why Allah, Mighty and Majestic, commanded frequent remembrance, saying in the verse:
“O you who believe, remember Allah abundantly.”
“And glorify Him morning and evening.”
The second is contemplating His blessings and favors. Allah, Most High, says:
“So remember Allah’s favors so that you may