From the point of view of the powers of perception...

From the point of view of the powers of perception, it inspires, and from the point of view of the emotions, it strengthens the will and determination, and when it rises to its highest aspect it brings miracles and supernatural events into existence.

It purifies the spirit from the tempers and humours of the body; or, in other words, love is a cathartic, it purges the base qualities arising from egotism, or from coldness and lack of warmth, such as envy, avarice, cowardice, laziness, conceitedness and self-admiration. It removes grudges and malevolence, although it is possible that deprivation of, and frustration in, love may produce, in their own turn, complexes and aversions.

By love, bitternesses became sweet, By love, pieces of copper became gold. [^5] In the spirit, the effect of love is in terms of its development and thriving; in the body, in terms of melting and decomposition. The effect of love in the body is the complete opposite of what it is in the spirit. In the body love is the cause of ruination, and the reason for pallor and emaciation in the body, for indisposition and disorder in the digestive and the nervous systems.

Perhaps all the effects which it has in the body are destructive; but in connection with the spirit it is not so - it depends on the object of love and how the person responds to that object. Leaving aside its social effects, it is predominantly perfecting in the spirit and the individual, because it produces strength, compassion, serenity, singleness of purpose, and determination; it abolishes weakness, meanness, annoyance, uncollectedness and dullness.

It removes the confusions which are called dassa in the Qur'an (91:10), meaning adulterations of purity with impurity, destroys deceit and purifies the cheat.

The spiritual way ruins the body, And, after having ruined it, restores it to prosperity: O happy the soul who, for love and ecstasy, Gave up hearth and home, wealth and riches, Ruined the house for the sake of the golden treasure, And with that same treasure rebuilt it better; Cut off the water and cleansed the river-bed, Then caused drinking-water to flow in the river-bed; Cleft the skin and drew out the iron point - Then fresh skin grew over it.

The perfect ones who are aware of the secret of reality Are in ecstasy, bewildered, intoxicated and deranged with love. Not bewildered in such wise that his back is towards Him, But so bewildered that (they are) drowned and intoxicated with the Beloved. [^6] [^1]: .