The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 137
Allāh the Exalted 137 tion and disclosed God's promise concerning the members of his family and other pious people who dwell within his house? [Nasim-e-Da'wat, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, Vol. 19, pp. 448-449]. In addition to all other normal conditions of man, ingrained in his nature, is the quest for a Transcendental. Being for Whom there is a longing in his heart of hearts. . The effect of this quest begins to be felt as soon as a child is born. As soon as it is born, it exhibits a spiritual characteristic which is that it leans towards its mother and entertains a natural affection for her. As its senses develop and the flower of its nature blooms, this attraction of love, which is inherent in it, begins to exhibit itself patently. It finds no comfort anywhere except in the lap of its mother. If it is separated from its mother and is put at a distance from her, its life becomes bitter, and though a heap of bounties may be placed before it, it finds its true comfort only in its mother's lap and nowhere else. Then what is this attraction that it feels towards its mother?. In truth, it is the same attraction which is vested in a child's nature for God. Every exhibition of affection by a person in fact proceeds from that very attraction, and the restlessness of a lover which a person experiences is in truth a reflection of that very love, as if he takes up diverse things and examines them in search for something that he has lost and whose name he has forgotten. A person's love of property, or children, or wife, or his soul being drawn towards the song of a sweet voiced singer, are in fact all in search of the lost Beloved. As man cannot perceive with his physical eyes the Imperceptible Being. Who is latent in everyone like fire and yet is hidden from