(Allah) does not accept the servant’s prayer unless his heart clings to Him.

(Allah) does not accept the servant’s prayer unless his heart clings to Him.[^14]” Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin clung to Allah to the extent that one of his sons fell into a well, and the people of Medina hurried to him and saved him from the well, while the Imam was standing in prayer in his mihrab and did not know that.

When he had finished his prayer, he was told about that, and he said: “I did not feel that, for I was whispering to the Almighty Lord.[^15] A fire occurred in the Imam’s house, but he paid no attention to the fire, for he was busy praying.

When he had finished his prayer, he was asked about that, and he replied: “The greatest fire (in the hereafter) distracted me from this fire![^16]” ‘Abd al-Karim al-Qushayri explained this wonderful aspect, which accompanied the Imam during his prayer, saying: “The heart sometimes becomes heedless of knowing the affairs of creatures, for it is busy pondering that which comes to it. It becomes inattentive of feeling itself or other than…