The Forth Treaties
Amongst the things that he wrote to some of his friends, he said (May Allah be pleased with him):
With regard to the advent of blessings (wurood al-minan), people are of three categories.
To the first belongs the one who rejoices at blessings, not with respect to their Bestower or Originator, but with respect to his pleasure in them. This man belongs to the forgetful (al-ghaafiloon), and Allah’s words hold true for him: “Until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly.” [Quran 6:44]
To the second category belongs the one who rejoices at blessings inasmuch as he sees them as blessings from Him who sent them or as grace from Him who brought it to him. Allah refers to him with His words: “Say: in the grace of Allah and in His mercy, in that they should rejoice. It is better than that which they hoard.” [Quran 10:58]
The third category belongs the one who rejoices in Allah. Neither the exterior pleasure of blessings nor their interior graces divert him. Instead, his vision of Allah, his concentration on Him (al-jam’ ‘alayh), divert him from what is other than He so that he contemplates only Him. Allah refers to him with His words: “Say, Allah! Then leave them prattling in their vain talk.” [Quran 6:92] Allah revealed to Dawud: “O Dawud, say to the truthful: Let them rejoice in Me, let them find joy in My invocation!”
May Allah makes your joy and ours in Him and in the contentment that comes from Him; may He put us amongst those who understand Him; May He not put us amongst the forgetful; and may He voyage with us in the path of the Allah-fearing with His grace and generosity!