Two men among those who feared, whom God had blessed, said…Sahl was asked, ‘What was that blessing (niʿma)?’ He replied:God blessed them with fear (khawf) and vigilance (murāqaba), because fear, concern (hamm) and sorrow (ḥuzn) increase one’s good deeds, whereas exuberance (ashar) and arrogance (baṭar) increase one’s misdeeds.His words: