The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 109
Effort and Natural Aptitude 109 velops the quality of reflection; which in other words means: تَخَلَّقُوا بِأَخْلَاقِ اللَّهِ The heart of the seeker is a mirror which is so polished by calamities and hardships that he begins to reflect the quali- ties of the Prophetsa. This stage is reached when, through striving and repeated efforts at purification, all impurities are washed away. Every believer is in need of such clean- sing. No believer will attain salvation without becoming a polished mirror. The seeker carries out this polish himself and endures hardships by virtue of his own pursuits, but the one with a natural aptitude is subjected to hardships. God Himself becomes his Polisher and, polishing him with diverse types of calamities and hardships, bestows upon him the qualities of a mirror. The end result of a seeker and one possessing natural aptitude is the same. Hence, righteousness has two aspects: effort, and natural aptitude. 91 Acquire the attributes of Allah. [Publisher] [Malfūzāt, vol. 1, pp. 29-28]