A Letter to a Dear One — Page 29
Muhammad Zafrulla Khan 29 them and supervise and check them, similarly, though on a much larger scale, and on a much more organized way and with excellent elegance Allah’s attributes are active within their spheres. “Imbue Allah’s Attributes” The question could arise that in what way can man imprint Allah’s attributes on his being or in what manner can he inculcate a reflection of these attributes within him. Let it be known that certain Divine attributes are such that man cannot adopt them in the sense with which they appertain to God. For example, Allah is One and it is not valid for man to try to be the only one in the world, it is against the Divine Will and is designed to destroy humanity. Unity of God can only be an attribute of Allah for He always was and always will be. He is not dependent for His Immortality on another being, means or support. However, man can try to attain this attribute in a ‘reflective’ manner in that in accordance to the Qur’ ā nic command he can try to vie with others in good works. Everyone should try to take one’s qualities and merits to excellence and to try to achieve uniqueness in assimilating the Singularity of the Creator. Just as the Khal ī fatul-Masih II says, I adore the Unique God and He is my Beloved— If you too accomplish uniqueness, you shall be the apple of my eye! Another attribute of Allah is that He is Independent and Besought of all. As mankind and other species are all dependent on Allah for their existence, man cannot acquire this attribute in its rudimentary connotation. However, he can try to put his true trust and reliance on Allah alone. This would be inclusive of the fact that this attribute requires of man that he does not supplicate to anyone save Allah. A person once came to the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) and asked him for something. His demand was met. He made a demand twice more and was given what he wanted. When he made the request for the fourth time, the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu ‘alaihi wa sallam) told the man that the most excellent among things was that the upper hand is always better than the lower hand and that he should give up the habit of asking. The man promised the Holy Prophet ( ” allall ā hu