The Aspiration (4/5)

The Station of Gratitude

10 - For His bounties   to His creation they are grateful;

With the heart, tongue and the limbs of their body.

Gratitude (shukr) is expressed with the heart, by acknowledging Allah's favours, attesting to them and not considering oneself deserving of them, but instead recognising that they are purely from the Lord's bountiful grace. It is expressed with the tongue by praising Allah for His favours and proclaiming them. [It is expressed] with the limbs by not being disobedient to Allah, but rather by utilising His favours to obey Him. [1]

If he is granted any worldly thing, he thanks Allah for it. If something of this world is removed from him, he [still] thanks Allah, for some­ times the withdrawal of a favour removes the person from a greater evil. If he is granted the ability to do an act of obedience, he sees this as a grace (tawfiq) from Allah, for which he [again] thanks Him.

And Allah's aid is sought.

The Station of Reliance

11 - Reliance is their companion in all affairs;

Whilst striving in the pleasure of the All-Merciful.

The servant's perfection lies in these two matters, which are: reliance (tawakkul) upon Allah, and striving diligently to obey Allah. The servant's perfection is hindered by the loss of anyone of them.

The reality of reliance entails two matters: dependence upon Allah and trust in Allah. So he depends upon his Lord with his heart for procuring what will benefit him, in both his religious and worldly affairs. He acknowledges his lack of power and inability and instead places his trust in Allah in order to acquire what will benefit him or to repel what will harm him. Furthermore he strives to utilise those causes (asbab) that will lead him to what is sought after.

The details of this is that when he firmly resolves to perform an act of worship, he strives to complete it and beautify it, sparing no effort to do so. He frees himself from depending  upon his own self and strength, but instead resorts to, and depends upon, his Lord in order to allow him to complete and perfect [that act]; having a good expectation  of Allah in this and putting his trust in attaining that which he placed his reliance upon Allah for.

When he firmly resolves to leave an act of disobedience  that his soul incites him to, he fulfills those causes that will lead him to leaving that sin; such as considering  it and turning his limbs from it. Then, after this, he places his trust in Allah, resorts to Him in order that He may protect him from it, and has good expectations of Allah with regards to Allah protecting him.

If he does this in everything that he does and leaves, then success is to be hoped for him, if Allah the Exalted wills. But as for the person who seeks Allah's aid and relies upon Him, but leaves the striving that is a pre-requisite for it, then this is not reliance. Rather, it is mockery! Such is also the case of one who does strive, but depends upon his own self and does not rely upon his Lord; he is only deluding himself.

The Station of Excellence

12 - Worshipping   the Divine, believing in His presence;

Thus taking their place at the Station of Excellence.

This is the station known as the Station of Excellence (ihsan),[2] which the Prophet sallallahu 'nlayhi wa sallam explained as being: "That you worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He sees you.” [3]

When a person envisages this station in all his states - in particular the state of worship - his heart is prevented from turning to other than his Lord. Instead he is fully content with Allah, focuses his heart upon Him, and has [spiritual] decorum whilst worshipping Him; doing whatever perfects it and refraining from whatever mars it. This station is one of the greatest and sublimest of all spiritual stations. However it requires gradually training the souls, step-by-step. The servant will not cease habituating his soul to it until he is drawn to it and accustoms himself with it. Then the servant will live in delight of his Lord, experiencing joy and bliss in His closeness.[4]

The Station of Good Character

13 - Advising others to that which pleases their Lord;

With knowledge, guidance and compassion.

14 - Accompanying   the people in bodily form;

Whilst their spirits dwell at a sublime station.

This is their state with the people, which is the most perfect of states and the sublimest.

They begin by sincerely  advising  people  to their utmost, loving for them the good they love for themselves;  deploring  for them the evil they deplore for themselves;  striving  to remove every evil from them with all that is possible;  and exerting themselves  in order to bring about benefit to them with every means at their disposal.  [This they do] by enjoining  goodness, forbidding evil, feeding those that suffer from hunger, clothing those that are destitute, alleviating those that are distressed,  teaching those that are ignorant, restraining  those that are oppressors,  helping those that are oppressed,  warding-off  potential harm from people, and keeping  the harms of their owns elves away from others. Furthermore, their association with people is external and bodily; as for their hearts and spirits, they hover around the Beloved and seek to be as close to Him as possible.[5]

Sometimes the person humbly abases himself before Him, with fear and humility. Furthermore, he expresses gratitude to Him through love of Him; being led to this by witnessing His kindness and closeness. He then inclines towards all that is pleasing to Allah, strives in the worship of Him and shows benevolence to His creation. Indeed these are the [true] people; these are the intelligent and perspicuous ones. And there is no might, nor power, except with Allah.

 (Continued)