Beautified for mankind is love of lusts-of women children stored-up heaps of gold and silver horses of high mark cattle and tillage. That is the comfort of the life of this world; but God-with Him is the more excellent abode. He mentions a few examples of lusts without distinguishing between them; included in the category is whatever veils you from witnessing shuhūd. The most difficult of obstacles on this path is hidden lust. According to them seeking pleasure by performing acts of obedience is counted in the category of hidden lust. Reliance on what comes to you from the various kinds of drawing near is among the problematic places of separation [on the path]. It is like the circumstance of someone confiding in you and flat- tering you. He describes and praises you with every pleasantry but beneath it there is a hidden deception. Felicity comes to you in the unveiling He grants to you through the witnessing shuhūd of His majesty and beauty. It does not come from His affirmation of [your] subtle states or what He chooses to grant [to you] in favors or drawing near..
