A Present to Kings — Page 27
(27) tioned to a certain extent with a view to the work. But the favour that appertains to Rahmaniyat, since it is not bestowed in return for any action, can have no limit assigned to it. Thus -the Holy Prophet has signifi حبيبتان الى الرحمن by the words ed that the reward for other devotions is derived from the attribute of Rahimiyat, but the afore-mentioned Kalemas attract the attribute of Rahmaniyat. In other words when man declares the holiness of God or extols his praise or proclaims His greatness, not only is the attribute of Rahimiyat set into motion, but the attribute of Rahmaniyat also comes into operation and descends upon him, and because this descent of Rahmaniyat bears no reference to deeds but is in the nature of a favour, therefore the scale of good deeds grows very heavy, because when the attribute of Rahmaniyat descends jointly with the attribute of Rahimiyat, no limit can be set to the magnitude of the result. . The real fact is-God has commanded His creatures 66. When one speaks و اذا احييتم بتحية فحيوا با حسن منها ! وردوها to you in a goodly address, it is meet that you should use in reply some better form of address or at least the same address. r السلام عليكم For instance, in reply to وعليكم السلام **And peace be on you," you should say on you be peace," How then is it possible that God who is the possessor of limitless treasures and the giver of the best rewards should not deal with His creatures in the same way ? Yes, He does so, and assuredly He does so. For instance it has been related in the holy traditions: "When My creature takes one step towards Me, I advance two steps towards Him, and when he walks fast towards Me, I run towards him. "*. Agreeably to this rule, when any creature speaks about God saying "Holy art thou, oh God!" then God, on the one hand, gives him his reward for the devotion, and on the other hand commands that he should be made holy; because, He has said, address) him with a better address حیوا با حسن منها آورد و ها or at least the same address). And when God commands in respect of any of His creatures "Be thou holy," then how can any