in mindfulness of Allah, they roam through His dominion and return to their owners bearing choice insights, without any scholar imparting knowledge to them.” The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Prayer is light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination.”

How could someone endowed with light, proof, and illumination fail to discern the realities of things from the tenor of what those concerned say? This applies especially to the Prophetic hadiths: he understands them fully because he intends to act upon them. These qualities reinforce one another in him, together with obedience and love for Allah and His Messenger. Indeed, a lover understands what his beloved means from the tenor of his words, through hints rather than explicit statements.

The eye can tell from the eyes of one who speaks
whether he is friend or foe.
Reason’s light is eclipsed by yielding to desire;
the mind that resists desire grows ever brighter.

In the authentic hadith:

“My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks.”

If Allah grants someone such guidance and support, how could he not possess penetrating insight and a soul capable of effective action? And if