Obedience arising from love (ṭāʿat al-maḥabba) is superior to obedience arising from fear (ṭāʿat al-rahba). This is because ṭāʿat al-maḥabba comes from the heart, whereas ṭāʿat al-rahba is external (originating from outside). For this reason, companionship with Sufis is effective, as they love one another for the sake of Allah and recommend good akhlaq (moral character). Due to the mehabbet (love) among them, good intentions (ḥusn al-niyya) arise toward one another. Therefore, the murīd (aspirant, disciple) benefits from his shaykh, and brothers within the tariqa (Sufi path/order) benefit from one another. For this reason, Allah has commanded people to gather in the mosque five times a day. Tabʿ (tabʿ), is a quality or state inherent in bodies. It is darkness, for it possesses neither maʿrifa (gnosis, experiential knowledge of God) nor perception. It is also unaware of itself and of what emanates from itself. Furthermore, it lacks a light by which it could perceive outwardly with the eye. (Mishkāt, 90)
Tabʿ is the pre-existence of knowledge (ʿilm) concerning each individual (i.e., it is known beforehand). (Iṣṭilāḥ, 538)