The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 78
78. Essence of Islam-III appearance and qualities of fire, in the same way, a seeker who has arrived at this stage is invested reflectively with Divine attributes. He surrenders himself so completely to the pleasure of God that he speaks under the direction of God, sees under the direction of God, hears under the direction of God, and moves under the direction of God, as if there is only God inside his mantle. His humanity is completely subordinated to Divine manifestations. This subject is delicate and is above common understanding; I shall, therefore, not explore it further. [Haqiqat-ul-Waḥī, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 22, pp. 22-25]. Stages of Spiritual Fulfilment. The word Aflaḥa is repeated six times in these verses. . In the first verse its use is explicit as is said: قدافلح الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ في صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونٌ . 67. In the other verses it is expressed through the conjunctive. In the lexicon the meaning of Aflaḥa is i. e. , one was turned towards his object of أُصِيرَ إِلَى الْفَلَاحِ success and made to move towards it. According to this meaning, the first move of a believer towards achieving his objective is humility in his prayer, an act that involves the abandonment of pride and arrogance. The objective attained thereby is that the self adopts the habit of humbleness and becomes ready and attuned to establishing a relationship with God. . The second step towards fulfilment is the abandonment 66. The reference is to the opening verses of Surah Al-Mu'minun, the twenty-third chapter of the Holy Qur'an. [Publisher] 67 *Surely, success does come to the believers, who are humble in their Prayers. Al-Mu'minun, 23:2-3 [Publisher]