122 – Someone asked one of the sages, “What is the root cause of sin?” He replied: “A khāṭirah (a fleeting thought). If you hasten to dispel that passing notion by turning back to God, it vanishes; but if you do not, it begets reflection. Should you then cut off that reflection by returning to God, it is nullified; otherwise the satanic whisper joins the reflection, and from their union desire is born. Up to this point everything is still hidden within the heart and has not yet appeared on the limbs. If you check the desire, all is well; yet if you fail to do so, it produces resolve. Should you rein in that resolve, it departs, but if not, it gives rise to the act itself.”}