THE FLASHES

The Twenty-Second Flash

Nor is the door of the grave ever closed. And concern for what lies beyond the grave is the most important question facing every human being with regard to his future. Therefore, duties that command the obedience and respect of the people are not confined to social, political, or military offices concerned solely with their worldly lives.

Just as issuing travel documents to those setting out on a journey is a duty, so too is furnishing those journeying toward eternity with a passport and a light to illuminate their dark road. Indeed, no duty is more important than this. Such a duty can be denied only by denying death itself and rejecting the testimony of countless witnesses who, day after day, attest through the seal of their funerals that death is a reality.

Since indispensable spiritual needs give rise to spiritual duties, and since the foremost of these is īmān, together with its teaching and strengthening—īmān which serves as the passport for the journey to eternity, the pocket-lamp of the heart amid the darkness of the ālam-i barzakh, and the key to everlasting happiness—the one who fulfils this duty will certainly not, through ingratitude for a Divine favour, disparage the Divine gift and virtue of īmān, nor will he lower himself to the level of the dissolute and sinful. He will not sully himself with their vices and dissipation.

It is precisely for this reason that I have withdrawn into seclusion—the very seclusion that you condemn and regard as a violation of equality.

In light of this truth, however, I do not address these words to arrogant people such as yourselves, who subject me to oppression and harassment and who, through their egotism and their violation of this very law of equality, come close to assuming a pharaonic attitude. For humility before the arrogant is regarded as humiliation, and one should therefore not humble oneself before them.

Rather, I address those among you who are honest, humble, and just:

Lillāhilhamd, I am well aware of my own shortcomings and powerlessness. I have no desire to attain an exalted position of honour among Muslims. On the contrary, I constantly behold my boundless deficiencies and insignificance, and find consolation in seeking forgiveness. I ask people not for their respect, but for their prayers. And I believe that all my friends are familiar with this manner of life of mine.

There is only this to add: while serving the Qur’an and teaching the truths of īmān, I temporarily assume, for the sake of those truths and out of reverence for the Qur’an, the dignity and gravity befitting that sacred duty. While teaching, I maintain this dignified bearing so that I need not bow my head before the people of misguidance.

I do not believe that the laws of worldly people extend so far as to interfere in such matters.

176/ 299