Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 20
20 HAQIQATUL-WAḤI-THE PHILOSOPHY OF DIVINE REVELATION be likened to a dog even after having experienced revelations. Because of their deficient state of knowledge, practice, and faith, Satan lurks at their door and rushes inside their home when they stumble. They see light from afar but they do not enter this light, nor do they get a sub- stantial portion of its warmth. Hence, they are in a state of risk. God is Light, as He says: اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّيُوتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ! One who only sees the inevitable results of this Light is like someone who only sees the smoke from a distance but does not see the light of the fire. Therefore, he is deprived of the benefits of the light and also of its warmth that consumes the impurities of human nature. Those who believe in the existence of God merely on the basis of traditional or rational arguments or on account of dubious revelations—such as the so-called religious scholars, philosophers, or those who believe in the existence of God on the basis of their spiritual faculties which have the capacity to see dreams and visions but are deprived of the light of God's nearness-are like a person who sees smoke from a distance, but does not see the light of the fire. By seeing the smoke alone, he begins to believe that there must be a fire. Such a person is deprived of the enlightened conviction that comes from beholding the light itself. On the other hand, one who sees the rays of this light from a distance but does not enter this light is like one who sees the light of a fire in a dark night and finds the right path with its help, but he cannot safeguard himself from the cold due to the distance from the fire, nor can the fire consume his carnal self. Anyone can understand that if the flame of a fire is visible from a distance on a dark and frigid night, its mere sight cannot save one from perishing. Only he will be saved who gets close enough to the fire so that it may sufficiently dispel his cold. The 1. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth (Surah an-Nür, 24:36). [Publisher]