Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 163
Malfuzat - Volume I 163 hand, rather, in the niche of their heart is a shining lamp. This rank is attained through utmost humility, through complete self-effacement, through lowliness and absolute obedience. How then can such an individual even think of sin? Such a one can never disbelieve, nor turn their gaze towards indecency. Therefore, such an individual experiences such pleasure and such satisfaction that I am at a loss for words to explain it fully. Turning towards Anything besides Allah It ought to be remembered that an individual can only observe and fully experi- ence Prayer, in the true sense, with the help of supplication. To implore of anyone or anything besides Allah is diametrically opposed to a believer's indignation, be- cause only Allah is worthy of being implored in supplication. Know for certain that until a person abases themselves completely and does not beseech Allah the Exalted alone, and does not implore Him alone, they cannot be deemed a true Muslim and a true believer in the actual sense. The very essence of Islam is that all of one's faculties-whether inner or external-must always lay prostrate at the threshold of Allah Almighty, just as a large engine fuels: many other parts. In the same way, until a person's every action and movement is not made to follow the overall power and control of the engine, how can they believe in the divin- ity of Allah Almighty? Until this is so, can such an individual call themselves ‘one who is ever inclined to God, in the true sense when reciting the words: -I have turned my face towards Him Who cre إِنِّي وَجَهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَوتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ated the heavens and the earth). If a person reinforces their words through action and turns towards God, then undoubtedly such a one is a Muslim; they are a be- liever and one who is ever inclined to God. However, one who implores anything or anyone besides God, and submits to others as well, ought to remember that they are most unfortunate and deprived. For a time will soon come when they will no longer be able to submit to Allah Almighty, even with empty words or hollow gestures. Another cause which gives rise to the habit of abandoning Prayer and becoming indolent is that when an individual inclines towards that which is besides Allah, the faculties of the soul and heart forever remain bent in that direction in the manner of a tree (whose branches are bent in a certain direction and then left to grow in that shape). The hearts of such people become so rough and hard that 1 al-An'am, 6:80