Abū ʿAlī Ḥasan b. ʿAlī al-Daqqāq was from Nishapur. He would give sermons to people, speaking about spiritual states (ḥāl) and maʿrifa (experiential knowledge of God). The following words are attributed to him:
“If a person shows humility to someone for the sake of his worldly life, two-thirds of his religion departs. For he has submitted and abased himself to the one to whom he showed humility with his tongue and limbs. If, however, he shows humility to that person in his heart, or believes that it is necessary to show him respect, then all of his religion departs.”
Abū ʿAlī also made the following explanation regarding this noble verse (āya):
“So remember Me; I will remember you.” (al-Baqara, 152).
“Remember Me while you are alive, so that when you die and are placed beneath the earth, I will remember you. For at that time, your relatives, friends, and companions will be far from you.”
“The greatest affliction is that you desire someone, but others do not desire you. That you approach others, but they drive you away and distance themselves from you.”
When the following verse (āya) was recited, he improvised the poem below:
“He turned away from them and said, ‘Alas, my sorrow for Joseph!’” (Yūsuf, 84).
“We lost our minds for Layla, but she lost her mind for someone other than us.
Another has become enamored with us and lost his mind, but we do not desire him.”
Upon the following hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), he also said:
“Paradise is surrounded by hardships.”
“Since this Paradise, though it is a created thing, can only be attained by enduring many hardships, just consider how one might attain to Allah, Who is eternal.”
Upon this hadith as well, he said:
“Hearts (qalb) are created with an inclination to love those who do good to them.”
“I am amazed! How is it that, although a person sees no one other than Allah who does good and bestows favors upon him, he does not incline and turn wholly to Allah with all his being?”
I say: His words upon this hadith are beautiful, but the hadith itself is not authentic.