Or did you suppose that you should enter paradise without there hav- ing come upon you the like of those who passed away before youḍ They were afflicted by misery and hardship and were so convulsed that the Messenger and those who believed with him said “When will God's help comeḍ” Ah but surely God's help is nigh. God created paradise and surrounded it with difficulties maṣāʿib. He cre- ated the fire and surrounded it with carnal desires and cravings raghāÌib. Anyone who is too shy to ride the terrors ahwāl will be kept from real- izing [his] hopes āmāl. Verily the Real سبحانه tested the ancients through their endurance of all kinds of hardships. He causes anyone who follows [in the footsteps] of the friends to be included in their path and share in their adversities. Anyone who thinks otherwise thinks a mirage is water. A dream does not transpire the way one thinks it should. The way sunna of God سبحانه has come to pass with the friends such that they only came to rest in the courtyard of victory after commanding the open spaces of des- peration. Although their anticipation is prolonged kindness will come to them all of a sudden and what they strove for will be realized unexpectedly.God most high said “Ah but surely God's help is nigh.”
