Thus the leader of the friends of God...

Thus the leader of the friends of God, Amir al-Mu'minin Ali (a) laments in his supplication to God: "فلئن صيرتني للعقوبات مع أعدائك، وجمعت بيني وبين أهل بلائك وفرّقت بيني وبين أحبائك وأوليائك فهبني يا الهي وسيدي ومولاي وربي صبرت على عذابك فكيف أصبر على فراقك؟!" "So if you subject me to the punishments with Your enemies, gather me with the people of Your chastisement and separate me from Your friends and favorites, then suppose, my God, my Master, my Protector and my Lord, that I may be able to endure Your chastisement but how can I endure separation from You?[^3] The reverend Shaykh commented the holy verse, يدعون ربهم خوفا وطمعا(They call on their Lord in fear and hope) (al-Sajdah: 16) as follows: "What is this fear and hope?

Fear of separation from and hope of union with Him. Parallel to this in concept is the saying of Amir al- Mu'minin Ali (a) in supplication of Kumail: فهبني يا الهي... وسيدي ومولاي وربي صبرت على عذابك فكيف أصبر على فراقك 'Then suppose, my Allah... that I may… be able to endure Your chastisement, but how can I endure separation from You?' ووصلك منى نفسي وإليك شوقي ..

And also in the supplication of Imam al-Sajjad (a): 'Joining Thee is the wish of my soul, and toward Thee is my yearning."[^4] The renowned Gnostic and jurist the late Mulla Ahmad Naraqi also said in this respect: 'Said in supplication the king of awliya, may my soul be sacrificed to him, that O my Lord, O God, Maybe I can tolerate Your punishment, how can I endure Your separation O Friend?

The wet-nurse frightens the kids of fire (and says) do not play o such and such otherwise, I'll place fire on your hand and foot, stigmatize your face and back, But they frighten the lion (-hearted) man (Ali (a)) of the chastisement of separation with a thousand fold fear and awe. '[^5] Fear of not being accepted by the Beloved Friends of God have fear even though they perform their obligations.

They fear lest their Beloved does not like them and does not accept them: (الذين يؤتون مآ أتوا وقلوبهم وجلة أنهم الى ربهم راجعون) (And those who dispense their Charity with their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord.) (al-Mu'minun: 60) Acceptance of a Beloved who is absolutely perfect is as important for the friends of God as also the pain of separation (from the Beloved) is heart-rending and unbearable for them.