Twenty-First Word

And the latīfa-i rabbāniyyaA spiritual faculty through which divine realities are perceived and spiritual joys are experienced. —which is an exceedingly subtle and luminous faculty, which serves as a mirror to Dhāt-i Azalī wa AbadīAllah, whose existence is without beginning and without end., which naturally longs for eternity, and which was created for eternity— undoubtedly has a tremendous need for relief amidst these oppressive, distressing, transient, dark, and suffocating worldly conditions. It can breathe only through the window of prayer.

The Third Admonition

O my impatient nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits.! Is it wise to think today about the past exertions of worship, the former difficulties of prayer, and the pains endured through previous afflictions, and thereby make yourself miserable? Is it also wise to think today about the worship, prayers, and afflictions of future days and thereby lose your patience?

In your impatience, you resemble a foolish commander in the following situation:

This commander confronts the enemy with his army. Although the enemy’s right flank had joined his own right flank and become a fresh source of strength for him, he nevertheless sent a substantial force from the centre to the right wing and weakened the centre.

And although there was no enemy at all facing the left wing of his army, he again sent a substantial force from the centre to that wing and ordered it to attack, thereby severely weakening the centre.

The enemy noticed this, attacked the centre, and inflicted upon him a crushing defeat.

Indeed, this is precisely your condition. For the exertions of yesterday have today been transformed into mercy. The pain has vanished, while the pleasure remains. The difficulty has become blessing, and the hardship has become sawābThe rewards granted in the Hereafter for deeds that earn the pleasure of Allah.. Therefore, rather than becoming weary of worship, it should inspire within you renewed determination, fresh delight, and a serious resolve to persevere.

As for future days, they have not yet arrived. To think today about the duties of those future days and thereby lose your patience and zeal is sheer foolishness—just as it would be foolish to begin shouting and crying today because of the hunger and thirst you imagine you will experience on days that have not yet come.

Since this is the reality, you should act wisely and direct your patience only toward the worship of today. Realize that you are spending a single hour of your day on a pleasant, beautiful, and exalted act of service that is not burdensome and whose reward is immense. Then your bitter weariness will be transformed into sweet zeal.

Indeed, O my impatient nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits.! You are responsible for three kinds of patience: perseverance in the worship of Allah, refraining from sin, and patience in the face of afflictions.

If you are wise, take the truth contained in this parable as your guide. Say, “Yā SabūrO Most Patient One, who grants patience.,” and persevere in displaying these three forms of patience. If you do not squander the patience that Allah has granted you on the wrong things, it will be sufficient to withstand every hardship and every affliction.

Stand firm with patience!