۞

« way to approach God (iqbāl ʿalā’Llāh) is through leaving behind the world and what it contains, for certainly that is what distracts [you] from God. Take note of how the hypocrites excused themselves by saying: ‘Our possessions and our families kept us occupied…’ His words: [48:25] …And were it not for [some of] the believing men and believing women whom you did not know — lest you should trample them…8 5 The verb ʿazzara (2nd form of the root ʿ-z-r) has a variety of meanings, including ‘to discipline’, ‘chastise’, ‘to give reli- gious instruction’ and ‘to honour’ or ‘revere’. Likewise, the verb addaba (2nd form of ʾ-d-b) can mean ‘discipline’ in the »