4.5. THE LEVELS OF THE PEOPLE REGARDING WHAT THEY FEEL OF THE FRUITS OF TAWHID
From them: he who knows based on what he has heard and seen evidence of. And from them: he who witnessed and has seen for himself what happens.
And from them: he who discovers the reality of sincerity (to Allah) (haqiqa al-ikhlds) and dependence (tawakkul) on Him, and of taking protection (iltija’) with Him, and seeking His help (istianah), and severing devotion (qata al-ta’allaq) to other than Him, and he has tried for himself having devotion to some creation and having hope in them bringing some benefit to him, or averting some harm, and he finds that they forsake him and his purpose is not attained. In fact, he may exert himself in serving them, or (giving them) money or other than that, hoping that they will be of benefit to him in his time of needing them, but they do not benefit him; either due to their inability to do so, or because their hearts have turned away (insiraf from him. And if he turns to Allah with true dependence (sidq al- ifiiqar) on Him, calling for His help (istighatha), being faithful (mukhlis) to the religion, He answers his supplication (du’a), and He removes what is harmful to him, and He opens for him doors of mercy (abwab al-rahma). So whoever is like this he has certainly realized the reality of dependence (on Allah) and supplication to Allah, which others have not felt. And likewise for the one who relished being faithful to the religion for the sake of Allah, seeking His Face and none other, he finds circumstances and results and benefits that are not felt by those who are not like that.
In fact, whoever follows his desires when it comes to things like leadership and rank, and being attached to beautiful images, or amassing wealth; he finds that throughout all of this, he has anxiety (humum), grief (gumum), sadness (ahfiin), distress (alam) and heartache that cannot be expressed. Perhaps his heart refuses to leave the desires, and he cannot achieve what makes him happy. Rather, he is always in a state of fear (‘kanf) and sadness (huzn). If he is seeking what he desires, then he is depressed and suffering before attaining it, until he gets it. And when he attains it, he is fearful of it being removed and being parted from it.
The friends of Allah, they are not fearful nor are they grieved. So if this one, or other than him, experiences the sweetness of faithfulness (halawa al-ikhlas) to Allah, and worshipping Him, and the delight of remembering (halawa al-dhikr) and praising Him (munajah) and understanding (fahm) His Book, and he submits his face to Allah and performs good deeds, such that his actions are righteous and done for Allah’s Face sincerely, then truly he finds happiness, pleasure and joy greater than what is felt by the supplicant who is reliant (on Allah) and by his supplication and reliance he obtains what benefits him in the worldly life, or averts from him something harmful. And there is nothing of greater avail to the heart than tawhid and sincerity of religion for Allah, nor anything more harmful than associating partners (with Allah).
So if he discovers the reality of sincerity, the actualization of which is:
“You alone (Oh Allah) do we worship.” (al-Fatihah (1):5),
with the reality of reliance, the actualization of which is:
“You alone (Oh Allah) do we ask for help.” (al-Fdtihah (1):5)
then this is beyond what everyone feels who has not found this. And Allah knows best.
By Shaykhu’l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
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