The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 212
212. Essence of Islam-1 fully to this. With the object that the blessings of that accepted Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] should be displayed forever and that the perfect rays of his light should confound and refute his opponents,. God Almighty has made the following arrangement by. His wisdom and mercy. Some individuals out of the followers of Muḥammad [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] who obey him with thorough humility and falling prostrate on the threshold of humbleness are completely lost to their ego, being found by God like a clear mirror, exhibit the blessings of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] in their humble selves. Whatever praise is bestowed upon them by God and whatever signs and blessings are manifested by them, the true source of all their praise and the perfect fountainhead of all those blessings is the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him]. In reality and in their perfection, those praises are worthy only of him and he is their perfect exemplar, but as the follower of the way of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] becomes through his perfect obedience like a reflection of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him], the divine lights which are focussed on and manifested in the holy being of the Holy Prophet are also manifested and reflected in his followers. The appearance in the shadow of the whole form and manner of the reality is a matter that is not hidden from anyone. . This shadow is not established in itself and no superiority is in reality present in it. All that appears in it is a picture of the real one which is manifested in the reflection. Do not, therefore, consider it a loss that the inner lights of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] reach those who are perfectly obedient to him out of