Lecture Lahore — Page 19
19 i. e. , if you wish to see God, then pray and strive, and an- other requirement is that you should keep the company of the righteous. These are the commandments that lead us to the true ob- jective of Islam which, as I have said before, is that man should surrender himself completely to God, like a sacri- ficial lamb, giving up all his desires and intentions, and losing himself in God’s will. He should bring about a vir- tual death upon himself, completely immerse himself in God’s love, obey Him on the basis of love alone and for no other motive, and acquire eyes that see with Him, ears that hear with Him, a heart that is completely devoted to Him, and a tongue that only speaks when He speaks. This is the stage where the labours of a spiritual wayfarer cul- minate, and man’s baser self is annihilated, and God’s grace grants him a new life through His living word and shining light, and honours him with His sweet converse. The subtlest of lights, which neither reason can discover nor eye can penetrate, now draws closer to him by itself, as God Almighty says: 26 i. e. , We are closer to him than his jugular vein. It is thus that mortal man is honoured with His nearness and his eyes are given a fresh light that cures his blind- ness; he sees God with his new eyes, and hears His voice, and feels himself immersed in His light. This is the cul- 26 Q a f, 50:17 [Publishers]