The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 109
Effort and Natural Aptitude 109 velops the quality of reflection; which in other words means: تَخَلَّقُوْا بِأَخْلَاقِ اللَّهِ : 91. The heart of the seeker is a mirror which is so polished by calamities and hardships that he begins to reflect the qualities of the Prophets. This stage is reached when, through striving and repeated efforts at purification, all impurities are washed away. Every believer is in need of such cleansing. No believer will attain salvation without becoming a polished mirror. The seeker carries out this polish himself and endures hardships by virtue of his own pursuits, but the one with a natural aptitude is subjected to hardships. . God Himself becomes his Polisher and, polishing him with diverse types of calamities and hardships, bestows upon him the qualities of a mirror. The end result of a seeker and one possessing natural aptitude is the same. . Hence, righteousness has two aspects: effort, and natural aptitude. 91. Acquire the attributes of Allah. [Publisher] [Malfūzāt, vol. 1, pp. 29-28]