The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 108
108 90. Essence of Islam-III قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ الله (Part Number 3). That is: 'If you wish to become the loved ones of Allah, then follow the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. )'. That perfect guide is the Messengers who endured such calamities as have no equal, and did not pass one day in comfort. Only those can be counted his true followers who follow every word and action of his with the utmost effort. God does not love the slothful and those who have no desire to encounter hardship. Such people will only incur the wrath of God Almighty. In order to carry out this Divine commandment of following the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the seeker must first study the whole life of the Holy Prophetsa and then follow in his footsteps. This is the way of a seeker. . It is fraught with calamities and hardships; it is only by enduring them that a person becomes a seeker. . The rank of those invested with natural aptitude is higher than that of the other seekers. God Almighty does not treat them as mere seekers but Himself exposes them to calamities and draws them towards Himself through His eternal magnetism. All Prophets were so drawn towards. God. When confronted with calamities, the human soul is illumined by undergoing such hardship, just like iron and glass, which, though they have the quality to shine, but become capable of reflection only after being polished to the extent that they begin to reflect the features of anyone who stands before them. Spiritual exertion and toil act like polish. The heart too should be polished until it de90 Al-e-'Imran,3:32 [Publisher]