’—that is, ‘I grew angry.’]” (1).

And Allah Most High says:

“Whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, abiding therein. Allah is angry with him, has cursed him, and has prepared for him a tremendous punishment.” [Surah al-Nisā’: 93]

And [it has been established] in the Sahih (2) through several routes that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Allah’s joy at His servant’s repentance is greater than that of a man whose mount became lost in a vast (3) and deadly wilderness while carrying his food and drink. He searched for it but could not find it, so he rested (4) beneath a tree awaiting death. Then he awoke to find his mount there, bearing his food and drink. Allah’s joy at His servant’s repentance is greater than this man’s joy at recovering his mount.” (5)

Joy arises only when something loved is obtained. A sinner is like a runaway slave who has absconded from his master and fled from him. When he repents, he is like one returning to his master and to obedience to him. This parable (6), given by the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—illustrates Allah’s love for and joy at the servant’s repentance, as well as His dislike of the servant’s acts of disobedience, in a way that shows this to be more profound than the analogy of the runaway slave. For when a person loses the beast carrying his food and drink in a deadly land (7), he experiences distress whose extent Allah alone knows, because he has lost his food, drink, and means of transport, and because the land is a desert from which escape is impossible. After searching for the animal and failing to find it, he loses hope and resigns himself to death. Then, if he awakens and finds it, he experiences indescribable joy at obtaining (8) what he loves