The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 117
111 vice and shun the ways of God's wrath. As they seek God with high resolve and perfect sincerity, they find Him and are given to drink their fill of their understanding of God. The true and perfect grace that conveys a person to the spiritual world depends upon the steadfastness mentioned in this verse, by which is meant that degree of sincerity and faithfulness which cannot be shaken by any trial. It means a strong relationship with the Divine which a sword cannot cut asunder and fire cannot consume, nor can any other calamity damage it. The death of dear ones or separation from them should not interfere with it, nor should fear of dishonour affect it, nor should a painful death move the heart away from it in the least degree. Thus this door is very narrow and this path is very hard. Alas how difficult it is! This is indicated by Almighty God in the following verse: قُلْ اِنْ كَانَ أَبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَاِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَ عَشِيْرَ تُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالَ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَ تِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَ مَسكِن تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمُ مِّنَ اللهِ وَرَسُوْلِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيْلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى الْقَوْمَ الْفُسِقِينَ 0 156 156. Say, if your fathers, and your sons, and your brethren, and your wives, and your kinsfolk, and the wealth you have acquired, and the trade whose dullness you fear, and the dwellings which you love are dearer to you than Allāh and His Messenger and striving in His cause, then wait until Allāh