The Need for the Imam — Page 19
D ar u rat-ul-Imam 19 change and Divine Will takes on different colours un- til the cool breezes of Providence begin to blow. And just as God creates the substance that causes fever, so does He create the antidote which expels it upon Di- vine command. Similar is the effect of the reliance which such people have upon God. 19 And the trust which the Imam of the age places in God, i. e. , his absorption in God, is more profound and effec- tive than that of all the Auliy a ’. 20 For instance, Moses as was the Imam of his age, and Balaam was the Wal i of his time. He enjoyed communion with God and his prayers were accepted. When, however, Balaam con- fronted Moses as , the contest destroyed Balaam, just as a sharp sword instantly severs the head from the body. The unfortunate Balaam, however, was unaware of the philosophy that, though God Almighty may speak to someone and declare him to be His beloved and elect, but when he confronts one who is more immersed in the waters of Divine grace, he will certainly be destroyed. Neither any revelation nor the fact that his prayers used 19 Persian Couplet: That prayer of the Sheikh is no ordinary prayer; He is mortal, yet his hand is the hand of God. [Publishers] 20 Auliy a ’ , plural of Wal i (Saint). [Publishers]