178 – ʿAlī ibn Abī Maryam narrated to me, from one of his shaykhs, from his father, from Wahb ibn Munabbih, who said: Jesus son of Mary—peace be upon him—said:

“Truly I say to you: just as a sick man looks at delicious food yet derives no pleasure from it because of the intensity of his pain, so the one engrossed in this world takes no delight in worship and tastes none of its sweetness while love of this world grips him.

“Truly I say to you: when a mount is neither ridden nor made to labour, it grows obstinate and its nature changes; likewise, hearts that are not softened by the remembrance of death and wearied by constant worship become hard and harsh.

“Truly I say to you: if a leather skin remains untorn and supple, it can serve as a vessel for honey; in the same way, hearts that are not rent by passions, sullied by greed, or hardened by luxury will become receptacles ⦗87⦘ for wisdom.”