Lecture Lahore — Page 7
7 true awareness that makes hearts tremble, they would not have been ravaged by the plague. Imperfect knowledge is also futile, because the love or fear that results from it is also imperfect. No one can de- rive any benefit from imperfect faith, imperfect love, imperfect fear and imperfect knowledge, nor, for that mat- ter, can anyone be satiated by imperfect food. Is it possible to satisfy one’s hunger with a grain, or quench one’s thirst with a drop of water? How then is it possible for you—who lack resolve and put little effort in search of the truth—to receive great Divine blessings with the help of little knowledge, little love and little fear? Remember, God alone can cleanse you of yours sins, and fill your hearts with His love, and overawe you with His Majesty, and, such is the eternal law, that all this is granted only after man has attained perfect awareness—the source of all fear, love and appreciation. He who is granted perfect awareness is also granted perfect love and fear, and he who is granted these is granted salvation, for he is saved from all sins that result from audacity. In order to attain this kind of salvation, we do not need the blood of Christ, or Crucifixion, or Redemption; all we require is a sacri- fice—the sacrifice of our own selves which our very nature demands. This sacrifice is otherwise known as 'Islam', which, literally, means to offer oneself to be sacrificed, or to willingly and completely submit oneself to God. The beautiful name 'Islam' is the soul of the Shariah and es- sence of all its commandments. It requires perfect love to readily offer oneself for sacrifice, and perfect love re-