The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 204
204 Essence of Islam-1 Divine and all the other means proceed from it and are its issue. The beginning of this understanding is the reflection of God's Rahmāniyyat and is not the result of any action or any prayer, but is a gift of pure grace. He guides whom He wills and He lets go astray whom He wills. This understanding is then fostered by righteous action and good faith, till it assumes the form of revelation and descending in the word of God, illumines the whole ex- panse of the bosom with the light which is called Islām. Excellence of Obeying the Holy Prophetsa At the stage of perfect understanding, Islām does not remain a mere phrase, but all its reality that we have de- scribed is achieved and the human soul prostrates itself humbly before Divine Unity. Thereupon, from both sides it is announced: Whatever is mine is thine. That is to say, the human soul cries out and confesses: Lord whatever is mine is Thine; and God also speaks and conveys the good news: O My servant, the heaven and earth etc. that are with Me are with thee also. This stage is indicated in the verse: قُلْ يُعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إنَّ اللهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا 121 (Part Number: 24) Say: O my servants who have committed excesses against your own selves despair not of the mercy of Al- lāh, surely Allāh will forgive all sins. In this verse instead of: O servants of Allah; the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] was 121 al-Zumar, 39:54 [Publisher]