and what admits priority is not purely for one specified matter. This is known through rational indication and unveiling.
(Leaving the Quest for Increase while Performing Gratitude as Worship)
God has made gratitude worship, and acts of worship are not left. He has made truthfulness worship, without praising it in every situation. Backbiting is truthful, yet blameworthy truthfulness; evil talebearing is truthful and blameworthy. In many situations truthfulness is blameworthy, although in an unrestricted sense it is a praiseworthy attribute. When detail enters, situations distinguish it according to custom and revealed Law. Likewise, falsehood without qualification is blameworthy, but when restriction and detail enter, situations distinguish it according to custom and revealed Law.
When someone thanks his Lord and sees gratitude and blessing as from Him, he performs a praiseworthy attribute, an act of worship. One may perform it solely as worship, without gratitude for the sake of increase occurring to him from this worship. Seeking increased knowledge is also commanded worship: there seeking increase is worship, whereas outside that situation it is not prescribed worship.
When someone performs gratitude to the Lord of blessing in its various forms without seeking increase, it is as though he leaves what gratitude gives and what souls naturally require through themselves of seeking increased blessings. The Real's being his hearing and sight does not prevent him here from leaving
