The Sanatan Faith — Page 21
POSTSCRIPT 21 self-existing. Rather, as is clear from their writings, they believed that all existence emanates from Parmeshwar and constitutes His words. This is exactly the creed of Islam. ([As the saying goes] Hundreds of the wise follow a single path while the foolish are totally dispersed. ) Unlike the Āryah Samāj, they did not base their religion on verbal craftiness; rather, they wholeheartedly searched for their Parmeshwar through meditation, devotion, supplications, and heartfelt sincerity. They undertook vigorous disciplines and meditation in forests and withered their bodies through fasting. In this state of solitude, they submitted to their Parmeshwar. Then the Eternal Light, which is called Parmeshwar, God, Khudā, and Allah in various languages, was manifested to them. They certainly did not believe that ilhām [revelation] and waḥi [inspiration] from the Divine were confined to the Vedas and that the door to communion with God was closed and sealed for all time to come. In fact, God spoke to them and revealed the unseen to them. The truth is verily that if God were to remain unmindful, neglectful, concealed, and hidden, without saying a word to those who are searching for Him, who are dying in His path and sac- rificing everything for His sake, they would experience a living death. No one in the world would be as unfortunate as he who abandons the world for the sake of Parmeshwar and fails to find Him. On top of that, he would be robbed of both worlds. But can a friend treat his friend in this way?! Certainly not! There is a well-known idiom [in Urdu] dosti meiń do sati hoń [i. e. friendship entails caring for each other in a spirit of sacrifice]. A person becomes smitten with mundane love. He goes on