Pure Devotion Beyond Reward and Punishment

Rabia famously rejected both fear of divine punishment and hope for divine reward, seeking love for its own sake. This pure devotion exposes favoritism's transactional root: we favor those who can benefit us, punish those who threaten us, or reward those we need. When love becomes conditional on gain, we create hierarchies of value. Rabia's radical shift—loving unconditionally—dissolves this calculus. Favoritism in families, workplaces, and communities often stems from what we'll get back: inheritance, influence, social standing, protection. The cost is immense: relationships become strategic, belonging becomes hollow, and justice becomes negotiable. By practicing love that expects nothing in return, as Rabia modeled, we begin to see every person as inherently worthy of attention and care. This doesn't mean naive passivity; it means our choices flow from genuine regard rather than hidden agendas. Her path reveals that favoritism poisons both community and the soul engaged in it.