The Descent of the Messiah — Page 160
THE DESCENT OF THE MESSIAH عَلَيْهِمْ - why did he teach this prayer, and why did He encourage supplication for something that was not attainable? If this prayer was not taught with the intent of bestowing the rewards of cer- tainty and spiritual knowledge, but rather just as empty words meant to please, it would confirm that this Ummah is the most unfortunate among all spiritual communities. It would suggest that it is not God's will to save this Ummah by giving them access to the fountain of certainty. It seems, instead, that God intends to abandon this Ummah in the whirlpool of doubts and suspi- cions. Remember, however, that this Ummah has definitely been blessed with a share of the rewards that were given to the Proph- ets, for if the perfected individuals from among the Muslims did not have a share in these rewards, their hearts would not have the longing to know God to the level of absolute certainty. The highest of these rewards is the reward of Divine word and dis- course through which man progresses to the ultimate degree in his recognition of God and is able to believe in His existence as if he had actually seen Him. It is then that Divine awe completely overwhelms his heart. The same effect that sight and certainty have over all things now begins to work within him, and the darkness of doubts and misgivings is dispelled, just as the dark- ness is scattered by the sun. Then there is no one on earth who is more righteous and abhors sin more than he does, no one who loves the One Creator more than he does, no one who is more faithful to the Beloved, no one who fears God more, no one who puts greater trust in Him, and no one who is more genuinely de- voted to Him. Just as it is evident from the Holy Quran that this Ummah has been promised certain and definitive revelation to the end of the world, so is this demanded by reason, for there is no cure for sin and transgression other than that the beauty and glory of God should be revealed to man with certainty. 160