Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 241
241 perfect man who is experienced in all the stages in sowing the seed, watering the land and tilling the soil, as it were. This demonstrates that man is in need of a per- fect guide. A person engaged in worship without a perfect guide to lead them is no different than a simple and uninformed child who sits in a field uprooting the actual plants in the field, all the while under the impression that they are weeding the soil. Do not surmise that you will learn how to worship God by yourselves. Nay, until the Messenger teaches you how, you cannot learn the ways of severing your ties from all else to the exclusion of God and of complete devotion to God. Seeking Forgiveness from God and Repentance Then, the question which naturally arises here is how this difficult task can be ac- complished. Allah the Exalted has informed us of the remedy Himself: 1 ِ اِلَيْه رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوْبُوْۤا اَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا And that you seek forgiveness of your Lord, and then turn to Him. Bear in mind that two things have been granted to this ummah: one which grants strength and the other which enables one to practically demonstrate the strength that they have attained. In order to build strength there is istighfar (seeking for- giveness from God), which may also be described as istimdad (seeking support) or isti’anat (seeking assistance). The sufis have written that just as meel clubs and lifting weights increase the strength and power of the body, similarly seeking for- giveness from God is a spiritual weight, which strengthens the soul and develops steadfastness in the heart. One who desires to develop strength ought to seek forgiveness or perform istighfar. The word ghafrun means to cover or suppress, and so, through istighfar a person seeks to cover and suppress those emotions and thoughts which stand between them and God. Therefore, the purpose in seeking forgiveness from God is so that man may overcome the venomous agents that attack him and seek to destroy him, and so that he may steer clear of the obstruc- tions on the path of fulfilling the commandments of God Almighty, and so that he may act upon them in the practical sense. It ought to be remembered also that Allah the Exalted has created man pos- sessing two internal substances; one being a venom which is stimulated by Sa- tan, and secondly, an antidote that lies within. When a person becomes arrogant 1 Hud , 11:4