There is no harm in attracting attention to something in this regard which is...

There is no harm in attracting attention to something in this regard which is: For each of these psychological conditions that arc more than the good and the bad aspects, there are many levels, To be characterized by one of the good attributes whHe being dissociated from a level of bad attributes may be the specialty of those who know Allah, who are friends of Allah. As regarding the rest of people, they are as they are in their levels.

To be characterized by what is a shortcoming in the sight of the men of knowledge, of the friends of Allah, does not seem to them [to these faulty persons] to be a shortcoming. Rather, it may be perfection of a sort. Also, the merits of these individuals seem to be bad to the men of knowledge, to the friends of Allah. Pretension, which we are discussing, is actually one of these attributes. Salvation from all its levels is the privilege of the friends of Allah. Others do not share them in it.

The general public of people being characterized by one of its levels is not a shortcoming based on the station in which they are. It does not harm their conviction or sincerity. For example, the hearts of the general public, according to their nature, incline towards showing people what is good about them, even if they do not do so with the intention of showing off.

But their souls by nature are inclined to such love, and this does not necessitate rendering the deed as void or describing them as unbelievers, hypocrites and polytheist, although this is surely a shortcoming in the sight of the friends of Allah, a shirk, a hypocrisy in the view of a friend of Allah, or one who knows Allah.

To be totally free of absolute shirk, to be redeemed of all its levels, is the first station of the friends of Allah who have other stations not suitable for elaboration here. The Infallible Ones, peace be with them, have said that their adoration is one of freemen's, that is, solely out of love for Allah Almighty, neither coveting Paradise nor fearing hell. It is one of their ordinary stations and the first degree of their mastership.

There are for them, peace be with them, in their adoration conditions which are beyond our comprehension.