Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation) — Page 729
A SHINING SIGN—SIGN NUMBER 198 729 istighfar [seeking forgiveness], and the same fear has always been the cause of all kinds of progress. God says: إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ) Thus, every son of man inherently contains the impurity of menstru- ation within him, but that very menstruation prepares the body of a pure and clean child for the one who sincerely turns to God. This is why those who lose themselves in God are called the children of God. However, this does not mean that they are literally God's sons. It would be sheer blasphemy to say so; for, God is Holy and has no sons. But they have been called 'children of God' only as a figure of speech since, like an innocent child, they keep on remembering God with utmost zeal. Indicating the same spiritual station, the Holy Quran says: فَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ كَذِكرِكُمْ آبَاءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا Meaning that, remember God with such love and heartfelt compassion as a child remembers its father. This is why God has been addressed as Ab or Pitā [meaning 'Father'] in the scriptures of every people. Figuratively speaking, God has a resemblance to a mother also and just as a mother rears her child in the womb, so are the beloveds of God nourished in the lap of God's love. They are granted a holy body out of a filthy origin. This is why the auliya' [friends of Allah] are called 'children of God' by the mystics. It is only a figure of speech. Otherwise, God has no children, and God is: لَمْ يَلِدُ وَلَمْ يُولَدُ 1. Allah loves those who turn to Him and loves those who keep themselves clean (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:223). [Publisher] 2. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:201 [Publisher] 3. He begets not, nor is He begotten (Surah al-Ikhlas, 112:4). [Publisher]