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When it comes to God’s commands, some people adopt a highly indifferent attitude.
1. Knowledge of Certainty (‘ilm al-yaqin): Suppose we are told the name of a city, e.g. “Bursa is a city in Turkey.” Now we know, as a matter of information, that a city of that name exists, though we have not been there nor have we seen it. This is “Knowledge of Certainty.”
2. Vision of Certainty (‘ayn al-yaqin): The time comes when we want to see that city, so we take the road towards it. As we approach, we get a panoramic view; it now becomes apparent whether the city stands at the foot of a mountain or by a lake or sea, how great an area it covers, what its buildings are like. Once we have come close enough to the city to perceive all these things, our knowledge has reached the level of “Vision of Certainty.” Before, we had only heard of the place, but now we have seen it with our own eyes and we realize that the city does indeed exist.
3. Truth of Certainty (haqq al-yaqin): A rational person is not disposed to turn back satisfied merely with a view from afar. He must go right into the city and look around its streets, its various quarters, its buildings etc. Now at last, he can walk around and inspect the city inch by inch. After hearing about it, then seeing it with our own eyes, we have finally lived in the city and come to know it at first hand. Our knowledge is now at the level of “Truth of Certainty.”
We have passed from Knowledge of Certainty, by hearing, through Vision of Certainty, by seeing, to reach the level of Truth of Certainty, where we experience directly, by tasting - all this we have illustrated by means of a worldly example.
We have heard from the divine Messengers that God exists, that He is One, and that He is the Owner and Creator of the entire Universe; we have believed in what has thus been reported to us. This faith is at the level of Knowledge of Certainty. All who have powers of intellect, perception and comprehension possess faith on this level. In short, the faith common to all believers is at the level of Knowledge of Certainty.
When it comes to God’s commands, some people adopt a highly indifferent attitude. They confess God’s existence and His oneness, yet they do not carry out His commands. Or if they do so at all, it is with reluctance and bad grace. Naturally, nobody can expect such people to rise to a higher degree. Should they fail to repent and seek forgiveness before they pass on to the Other World, they will fall into great disgrace when they are brought into the Divine Presence. May Allah preserve us all from being like this.
Those, on the contrary, who are extremely attentive to God’s commands and wish to fulfill them, are the beloved servants of Allah.
The eagerness and enthusiasm shown by such people in carrying out His commands are among the states most pleasing to God. Although they may not yet have reached the level of Vision of Certainty, they ought not to forget that they belong among the group that may be summoned to that degree. If only they do not stray from the path! Moreover, these are the strongest candidates for the degree of Truth of Certainty, provided they are extremely fastidious and extremely conscientious with respect to Allah’s commandments, paying no attention to all those worldly pleasures and diversions that appear so attractive and satisfying, but are at variance with His wishes.
Here there is something I would like to make particularly clear, as I am concerned about a possible misunderstanding. Certain people are going to say: “Well then, are we to do nothing in this world but worship, are we not entitled to any entertainment, any relaxation?” It must therefore be stressed that the worldly pleasures and diversions we referred to as needing to be shunned, are those at variance with, contrary to Allah’s commands in the Qur’an. Otherwise, those who truly observe these commands are at liberty to enjoy worldly recreations. They may pursue all permissible forms of entertainment. All that is demanded is the meticulous observance of propriety, chastity, honour, dignity and self-respect. The believer, who already possesses those attributes that will qualify him to enter this degree, has become not only a beloved servant of Allah, but one whom He also appreciates and commends (Irshad).
The fear of Allah is of two types.
One is fearing His Punishment, His Hell…. This is the common man’s fear.
The other is experienced by those who fear that their Lord may not address them as “My servant!”, dismiss them from His Service and not admit them to His Beauty and Closeness. This is the fear of God’s friends and saints.
Those who have this kind of fear, whenever they hear a verse of the Qur’an or a noble Tradition, their hearts are illumined and the light of their faith increases. As the light increases, they experience manifestations in their prayers. The ritual prayers they perform become for them a heavenly ascension. Their hearts become calm and reflect upon the state of the hungry and the homeless. But they do not stop at reflection, they extend to them the hand of tenderness and compassion and assistance to strangers, lonely orphans and old people, the needy and victims of oppression who hide away unable to beg and make their poverty known. This they do without expecting any recompense, gratitude or service in return, never losing sight of the possibility that they themselves might fall into such conditions. They work without advertisement, hypocrisy or ostentation, always too tactful to say “Look, I am helping you.” Thus they perform with purity of heart the good works dearest to Allah and most acceptable in His sight, thereby achieving Divine Approval.
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