The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 154
PREFACE ESSENCE OF ISLAM 153 ignorance of religious sciences and of correct beliefs, and indulgence in falsehood and vain pursuits-it would clearly be contrary to the quali- ties of the righteous, since true <mark>taqwa</mark> [piety] cannot coexist with igno- rance. True <mark>taqwa</mark> is accompanied by a light, as Allah, His eminence be glorified, has said: 1 يَايُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن تَتَّقُوا اللهَ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ فُرْقَانَا وَ يُكَفِّرُ عَنْكُمْ سَيَأْتِكُمْ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ نُورًا تمشون به This means, 'O you who believe, if you remain steadfast in piety and firmly establish the quality of <mark>taqwa</mark> for the sake of Allah, then Allah will place a distinction between you and others. This distinction is that you will be granted a light by which you will walk in all your paths— meaning, this light will permeate all your actions, words, faculties, and senses. Your intellect will be illuminated, and even your intuitive thoughts will be filled with radiance. There will be light in your eyes. In your ears, in your tongues, in your speech, and in your every move- ment and stillness, there will be light. The paths you tread will become illuminated. In short, all your paths—the paths of your faculties and senses—will be filled with light, and you will walk immersed in light from head to toe. It is now clearly proven by this verse that righteousness cannot exist alongside ignorance. Yes, understanding and perception can vary in degree according to the levels of piety attained by a person. It is also clear in this context that the great and most excellent miracle granted to Auliyā’ullāh [the Friends of Allah]—who have attained a place of eminence in the practice of virtue-is that in all their senses, their intellect, and their understanding and thoughts, there is placed a light. Through the waters of bright visions, their spiritual power attains a purity not granted to others; their senses become extremely perceptive, 1. Surah al-Anfāl, 8:30 [Publisher] 2. Surah al-Hadid, 57:29 [Publisher]