of the early righteous used to say, “I have never wrestled with my soul over anything as fiercely as I have wrestled with it for sincerity.” Hence the recompense of the sincere is that whoever pronounces Lā ilāha illa Allāh with a heart genuine and pure, Allah will make the Fire unlawful for him.

But when does one actually reach that station? It is an exceedingly arduous matter, for striving to be sincere with Allah is among the hardest demands placed upon the soul. The soul has its own cravings, and a person naturally likes to be held in esteem, to be respected in the eyes of others, and to hear people say, “This man is devout; this man possesses such-and-such noble traits.” Through this doorway Satan infiltrates and pushes a person toward showing off before people. The Prophet ﷺ warned, “Whoever seeks to have his deeds publicized, Allah will publicize him; and whoever seeks to be seen, Allah will expose him.” That is, his affair will be laid bare before everyone—Allah’s refuge is sought.

Another arena in which one must strive against himself is undertaking demanding acts of obedience, such as fasting. Fasting is among the most strenuous acts for the soul, because it involves forsaking what it is accustomed to—food, drink, and marital relations. For most people it is heavy, except for those whom Allah makes it easy and light. You will see some individuals, for example, who, when Ramadan arrives, feel as though a mountain has been placed upon their backs—Allah protect us—because they find the fast burdensome and regard it as hard. Some even reserve the daylight hours entirely for sleep and the nights for aimless wakefulness, all because they find this act of worship so taxing.