“Ye are the nearest to Him…”

Jesus passed by three men. Their bodies were lean and their faces pale. He asked them, saying, “What hath brought you to this plight?”
They answered, “Fear of the Fire.”
Jesus said, “Ye fear a thing created, and it behooves God that He should save those who fear.”

Then he left them and passed by three others, whose faces were paler and their bodies leaner, and asked them, saying, “What hath brought you to this plight?”
They answered, “Longing for Paradise.”
He said, “Ye desire a thing created, and it behooves God that He should give you that which ye hope for.”

Then he went on and passed by three others of exceeding paleness and leanness, so that their faces were as mirrors of light, and he said, “What hath brought you to this?”
They answered, “Our love of God.”
Jesus said, “Ye are the nearest to Him, ye are the nearest to Him…”

(Sufism: The Mysticism of Islam. Reynold A. Nicholson. IndoEuropean Publishing, California 2009. p. 9-10)