around the Throne; but that figure is Satan, and those around him are devils. This has happened to more than one person.

[Chapter: On the Love of Allah Most High]

(Chapter)

Various groups have acknowledged that He deserves to be loved, yet they have denied that He loves anyone besides Himself except in the sense of His general will. The believers’ love for their Lord is something firmly present within their hearts (1) and innate dispositions. It is attested by the Quran and the sunnah, has been widely transmitted from the Salaf of the Ummah and the elect, and is unanimously affirmed by those who know Allah.

It is established that the believers’ delight in gazing upon Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be the greatest delight in Paradise. In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, a caller will proclaim: ‘O people of Paradise, you have a promise with Allah that He wishes to fulfill for you.’

“They will ask, ‘What is it? Has He not brightened our faces, made our scales heavy, admitted us into Paradise, and delivered us from the Fire?’

“He said: ‘Then He will remove the veil, and they will gaze upon Him. He will have given them nothing dearer to them than gazing upon Him. This is the increase.’” (2)

In another hadith, narrated by al-Nasā’ī and others:

“I ask You for the delight of gazing upon Your Face and the longing to meet You, without harmful adversity or misleading tribulation.” (3)