and a young man who grew up in obedience to Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love one another for the sake of Allah—meeting for that reason and parting upon it—and a man whom a woman of rank and beauty invites, whereupon he says, ‘I fear Allah.’”

This last category is the point at hand. The woman possesses status—that is, she is noble, not lowly—and she is beautiful; beauty naturally stirs the soul to look at a woman and seek intimacy with her. Yet he said, “I fear Allah.” He did not say, “I have no desire,” nor, “People are nearby and I am afraid they will discover us.” Rather, he said, “I fear Allah.” The man is young and brimming with desire; every cause that leads to fornication is present and no worldly barrier stands in the way. Only one barrier remains: fear of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Because of that fear he said, “I fear Allah,” and thus he is counted among those whom Allah will shade in His shade on the Day when there is no shade but His.

The crucial point is that Hell has been veiled by lusts, whereas Paradise has been veiled by hardships. Therefore strive against your soul to do what Allah loves, even when you dislike it. Know—this is the knowledge of one who has tried it—that if you force yourself to obey Allah, you will come to love that obedience and grow accustomed to it; after once detesting it, your very soul will refuse to abandon the act of obedience whenever you contemplate leaving it.

We see some people who dislike praying in congregation and find it burdensome when they first begin, yet after a time the congregational prayer becomes the joy of their eyes. Should you order such a person not to pray, he would not comply. So train your soul and compel it at the outset; it will then soften for you and submit. I ask Allah to help me and you to remember Him, thank Him, and worship Him in the finest manner.