The Sixth Word

For example, the eye is a window through which the soul looks upon the world. If you do not sell it to Allah, but make it work in the interest of your nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits., then by gazing at certain transient, fleeting unlawful images, it will serve as a shameless instrument for the low desires and lusts of the nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits.. However, if you sell the eye to its Sāni-i BasīrAllah, Who creates with perfect artistry and sees all things. and make it work in His name within His appointed limits, the eye will become a researcher studying the great universe, a spectator beholding the wondrous artworks of the Lord in this universe, and a blessed honeybee among the flowers of mercy in the garden of the world.

For example, if you do not sell the taste faculty of the tongue to Fātir-i HakīmAllah, Who creates all things from nothing with perfect wisdom., but make it work in the interest of your nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. and in the name of your stomach, the tongue will descend to the level of a doorkeeper serving the stable and factory of the stomach. Thus, its value will be lost. However, if you sell it to the Razzāq-i KarīmAllah, the Generous Provider Who sustains all creation with infinite generosity., the tongue will become a skilled and grateful taster of the gifts of mercy in the kitchen of as-SamadAllah, Who is in need of nothing and no one, while everyone and everything is in need of Him..

Indeed! O human being, pay attention to your intellect! Realize the difference between an ominous instrument and a key that unlocks the doors of the truths in the universe. O human being, look carefully with your eyes! See the difference between a shameless instrument and a scholarly researcher studying the books of creation in the library of the universe. O human being, taste with your tongue what is lawful! Notice the difference between the doorkeeper of a stable or factory and a taster of the gifts of mercy from the treasures of Allah.

If you consider the other faculties and senses in the same way, you will understand that a believer acquires a state that makes him worthy of Paradise, while an unbeliever falls into a condition that makes him suited for Hell. The reason they acquire such value is that, through his īmānFaith; belief in the six articles of faith: Allah, His angels, His revealed scriptures, His prophets, the Hereafter, and divine decree (qadar)., a believer uses what has been entrusted to him in the name of his Creator and within His appointed limits, while an unbeliever commits betrayal by using it in the name of his nafs-i ammāraThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits..

The fourth profit: the human being is weak and experiences many calamities. He is needy and has many needs. He is powerless, and the burdens of life are extremely heavy. If the human being does not rely on Qadīr-i Dhu’l-JalālAllah, the All-Powerful One Whose greatness and majesty are without limit. through tawakkulTrust in Allah after making the necessary effort and fulfilling one’s responsibilities. and does not trust in Him through taslīmiyyaSubmission to Allah through acceptance and obedience to His guidance conveyed by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)., his conscience will constantly suffer torment. Fruitless hardships, pain, and grief will suffocate him. He will become either a drunkard or a beast.

The fifth profit: ahl-i kashfSpiritually elevated people who, by Allah’s permission, can perceive certain matters of the unseen. and ahl-i shuhūdSpiritually elevated people who, by Allah’s grace, can perceive certain unseen realities. are unanimous that the acts of worship and glorifications performed through your faculties and senses, together with their immense yields, will be presented to you—when you are most in need—in the form of paradisiacal fruits.

Indeed, if you do not carry out this trade with its five profits, then besides missing these five benefits, you will also suffer loss in five respects.

The first loss: your possessions and children, which you love so much; your nafsThe aspect of the soul associated with lower desires and negative traits. and base desires, to which you attach such importance; and your youth and life, with which you are so infatuated, will slip from your hands and perish. They will leave behind only sins and torments, burdening you with them.