and neither can riḍā (contentment with God's decree) be an obstacle. They do not abandon their love nor incline towards comfort out of ease.
The riḍā of the ṣiddīqūn (the truthful ones) is the mutual striving for love between the one who will be present at the highest station of gaze and the One Who is Present. For these are always in a state of taraqqī (spiritual ascent). With each ascent, the servant's path in the Divine Presence narrows. At the first stage, where the servant is with Allah in the locus of manifestation of actions, he witnesses Him among other creatures. In subsequent ascents, the point of witnessing narrows, but does not disappear. With every ascent, the loci of gaze become more restricted. The riḍā of the ṣiddīqūn is their intimacy with the Real (al-Ḥaqq) in this constriction. This state is an unveiling (kashf) and tasting (dhawq) that cannot be comprehended by intellect.
The riḍā of the muqarrabūn (those brought near) is their turning from the Real (al-Ḥaqq) to creation. (Insān, II, 93)
Riḍā is the joy (delight) of the qalb (the heart) under the decree of destiny. (Jāmiʿ, 54)
Riḍā is of three kinds: The riḍā of the ʿawāmm (the common people) is with the religion of Allah. This is their acceptance of Allah's religion. The riḍā of the khawāṣṣ (the elect) is with Allah's reward. This too is for the sake of Allah's riḍā.