Reading from the author's text with commentary and collation of manuscripts: "So asking Allah and seeking nearness to Him through obeying His command, avoiding His prohibition
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The reader: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may prayers and peace be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
As for what follows: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim*: "So asking Allah and seeking nearness to Him through obeying His command, avoiding His prohibition, doing what He loves, and through servitude and obedience, is of the same kind as doing that, in hope of Allah's mercy and fear of His punishment. Asking Allah by His names and attributes, such as saying:"
The Shaykh : His statement (may Allah have mercy on him): "and of the same kind as doing that, in hope of Allah's mercy and fear of His punishment" is an indication that if a person worships Allah the Exalted with this intention, he is rewarded and praised. This is the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Fath 48:29].
Indeed, some of the Sufis have gone astray who said: "The perfection of worship is to worship Allah for the sake of Allah," meaning: you do not desire anything but Allah Mighty and Majestic. It is said: Glory be to Allah! If we were to say this, then all the reward of Allah Mighty and Majestic mentioned in the verses would be futile and of no benefit. The person hopes for the reward of Allah, hopes for Paradise, and among the blessings of Paradise is the seeing of the Face of Allah Mighty and Majestic and the pleasure of Allah with the servant. Yes.
The reader: "Asking Allah by His names and attributes, such as saying: 'I ask You by the fact that all praise is Yours, You are Allah, the Bestower of Grace, the Creator of the heavens and the earth,' and 'by the fact that You are Allah, the One, the Eternal Refuge, who has not begotten nor been begotten, and there is none comparable to Him,' and the like, is a matter of causation. For the fact that He is the Praiseworthy Bestower of Grace necessitates His favor toward His servants"
The Shaykh : In my copy: "His favor" (mannahu), without a taa. Did he indicate that?
The reader: No, he did not indicate that.
The Shaykh : Make it a copy.
The reader: "necessitates His favor toward His servants, and His benevolence for which He is praised. And the fact that He is the One, the Eternal Refuge, who has not begotten nor been begotten, necessitates His uniqueness in His Eternal Refuge-ness. Thus, He is the Lord who is sought, to whom people turn for their needs, the One who is self-sufficient in all else, while all else is in need of Him and cannot do without Him. This is a cause for the fulfillment of what is sought. And this may include the meaning of swearing by Him with His names and attributes".
As for what follows: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in *Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim*: "So asking Allah and seeking nearness to Him through obeying His command, avoiding His prohibition, doing what He loves, and through servitude and obedience, is of the same kind as doing that, in hope of Allah's mercy and fear of His punishment. Asking Allah by His names and attributes, such as saying:"
The Shaykh : His statement (may Allah have mercy on him): "and of the same kind as doing that, in hope of Allah's mercy and fear of His punishment" is an indication that if a person worships Allah the Exalted with this intention, he is rewarded and praised. This is the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). Allah the Exalted said:
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure
محمد رسول الله والذين معه أشداء على الكفار رحماء بينهم تراهم ركعاً سجداً يبتغون فضلاً من الله ورضواناًIndeed, some of the Sufis have gone astray who said: "The perfection of worship is to worship Allah for the sake of Allah," meaning: you do not desire anything but Allah Mighty and Majestic. It is said: Glory be to Allah! If we were to say this, then all the reward of Allah Mighty and Majestic mentioned in the verses would be futile and of no benefit. The person hopes for the reward of Allah, hopes for Paradise, and among the blessings of Paradise is the seeing of the Face of Allah Mighty and Majestic and the pleasure of Allah with the servant. Yes.
The reader: "Asking Allah by His names and attributes, such as saying: 'I ask You by the fact that all praise is Yours, You are Allah, the Bestower of Grace, the Creator of the heavens and the earth,' and 'by the fact that You are Allah, the One, the Eternal Refuge, who has not begotten nor been begotten, and there is none comparable to Him,' and the like, is a matter of causation. For the fact that He is the Praiseworthy Bestower of Grace necessitates His favor toward His servants"
The Shaykh : In my copy: "His favor" (mannahu), without a taa. Did he indicate that?
The reader: No, he did not indicate that.
The Shaykh : Make it a copy.
The reader: "necessitates His favor toward His servants, and His benevolence for which He is praised. And the fact that He is the One, the Eternal Refuge, who has not begotten nor been begotten, necessitates His uniqueness in His Eternal Refuge-ness. Thus, He is the Lord who is sought, to whom people turn for their needs, the One who is self-sufficient in all else, while all else is in need of Him and cannot do without Him. This is a cause for the fulfillment of what is sought. And this may include the meaning of swearing by Him with His names and attributes".