The Essence of Islam – Volume IV — Page 161
Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama'at, and Instructions 161 to come, as I have in the Holy Qur'an. This faith is not merely well-intentioned but has been bestowed upon me by the light of Divine revelation which shines on me like the sun. How can I expel from my heart the certainty which has been carried to the ex- treme by the continuous display of extraordinary signs, certain knowledge and the daily experience of clear and certain converse with God? Shall I reject the bounty of understanding and true knowledge which has been bestowed upon me? Shall I turn away from the heavenly signs that are shown to me? Shall I dis- obey the commandment of my Lord and Master? What shall I do? Death is a thousand times more wel- come to me than that I should turn away from Him Who has revealed Himself to me in all His beauty and majesty. Is this life such a long one, and are the peo- ple of the world so faithful to me that for their sake I should abandon the Beloved Friend? I know well that my opponents rely only on a moth-eaten crust and they desire that I too should adopt it and should give up the kernel. They try to intimidate and threaten me but, by the Dear One Whom I have recognized, I at- tach no weight to their threats. I would prefer sorrow in His company to the joy in the company of another. I would prefer death in His company than enjoy a long life by abandoning Him. Just as you cannot say that it is night when you have seen the day, in the same way I cannot consider the light that has been shown to me as darkness. When you are not prepared to renounce your doctrines which are a collection of