Hakeemul Ummat Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi ra said,
“Do you observe how a child grows?
If he is measured everyday, it will not be perceptible and the day to day growth would not be noticed. In reality, however, he keeps growing. Soon he reaches puberty. He grows a beard and turns into a full-grown man.

In the same way, if one follows this path (tariq) with sincerity and steadfastness and does not become careless, he will progress gradually and reach spiritual puberty (attain Love of Allah swt/t’aluq m’aAllah).”

“The Spiritual Discourses” by Qutubul Irshad Sidi wa sanadi Hazrat Moulana Mufti Taqi Usmani sahib db