Bounties of the Gracious God — Page 12
12 Allah surely alters His ways for those who transform themselves. For those who take on a new being and for those completely devoted to His path, He grants a new life. This is the ultimate goal of every believer, and one who has not seen any of His miracles has seen nothing. To His servants who cut themselves from all else, God man- ifests Himself with exceptional power; He stands up for them with exceptional grace and shows for them signs that are neither touched by anyone nor anyone has ever got close to them. When God’s friends turn to Him with sheer humility and modesty, He hastens to them and saves them from every injury and everything that would cause injury. And when they seek victory through their ultimate effort and by bowing down at the divine threshold, then the verdict is miraculously made in their favour. Everyone who hurts them and does not adopt righteousness is defeated and fails to obtain his purpose. How then can a friend of Allah and those who are His enemies be equal? Do you not see that those, who have been crushed by the quern of love and who have gone through various spells of hardship due to their love for the Beloved are never destroyed? Allah does not subject them to two deaths, one by His own hand and the other by the hand of his enemy, lest those that mock laugh at them. Thus has He decreed from the very beginning of the world’s creation. Even if He decides to destroy them, they are His servants. But if He decides to support them, then the enemy and his enmity can gain nothing. Allah, however, has decreed honour and triumph for them. They are such that they are hidden beneath His mantle. Unless God decides to make them manifest, His creation cannot recognize them. God recognizes them and looks after them and, like a witness, stands