is removing from himself every hurt which does not befit him to be seen within him, even if praised in relation to another, while legally blamed in relation to him. When he purifies himself of it,[1] God, exalted is He, loves him. Such attributes include grandeur, overwhelming might, boasting, swaggering, and self-admiration.
Some of these attributes never enter the heart because of the divine seal upon hearts, His saying, “Thus God seals every heart of one who is proud and overbearing” [Ghafir 40:35]. Grandeur and overwhelming might appear upon his outward self toward those among his people who deserve it, whether in his own claim and imagination or in the reality of the affair.
Within his heart he is protected from that grandeur and overwhelming might, since he knows his incapacity, lowliness, and need of all existents. A flea's bite hurts him; he seeks the latrine to remove the pain of urine and excrement; he needs a scrap of bread to repel hunger's pain. How can one so described every day and night have grandeur and overwhelming might within his heart? This is the divine seal upon his heart, so none of this enters it.
Its appearance upon his outward self is conceded. Yet God assigned settings in which he appears through these descriptions without blame, and settings in which He blames him. Whoever purifies himself from having these descriptions seen upon him outside their proper settings is one who purifies himself, and God loves him. Likewise He denied His love for every swaggering boaster [Luqman 31:18]. Only an ignorant person appears with this description, and ignorance is blamed,
Notes
[1]
(“Appeared” [ظهر] has been corrected to “purified” [طهر] by comparison with the new edition.)
