Volume One
“WE HAVE TURNED FROM A SMALL CLASH TO A GREAT BATTLE” – AN EXPLANATION
O kings! We have slain the enemy outside; but within us is a foe even worse than he. To conquer him is not the work of reason or intellect. The lion does not play games with rabbits inside. Hell is this ego; it is a dragon whose heat cannot be quenched by seas. It consumes seven seas and yet the heat and frenzy of the ego, resembling an old woman, do not diminish.
The disbelievers, hearts as stone, enter hell weeping and wailing in shame. They will not accept even this torment unless a call comes to them from God:
“Are you satisfied?” they say, “No, I am not satisfied,” like wolves and jackals. Behold the fire! Behold the heat! It swallows the entire universe as a morsel and yet its belly cries out, “Is there more?”
Finally, God places His foot from the realm of the Non-Manifest, and then immediately it calms down. Our ego is also a part of hell. Therefore, the particulars are always within the universal. The foot that will kill the ego is only the Foot of God. Indeed, who other than God can draw back the bow of the ego? Only those who aim true arrows release them from the bow. These arrows too have crooked and skewed shafts. Be like a true arrow and be released from the bow! For there is no doubt that every true arrow will fly from the bow.
Having freed myself from external warfare, I turned to internal conflict. We are now returning from a small clash; we are with the Prophet in a great battle. I desire a power from God who created the seas so that I may pluck Mount Qaf from its place with a needle.
Know that it is easy to fight a lion whose ranks are scattered and broken. The true hero is one who conquers his own ego.
Regarding this, listen to a story:
An emissary came from the Roman Emperor to Omar (RA) in Medina, traversing distant deserts. He said to the people of Medina, “Where is the palace of the Caliph so that I may draw my mounts and belongings there?”
The people said, “He has no palace; Omar’s palace is only a luminous soul.” Even though his name and fame are known as a ruler, he has nothing more than a humble hut like the poor.
How can you see his palace, brother? The eye of the heart has a hair growing in it. Purify the eye of the heart from hair and disease, then seek to see his palace. Whoever’s soul is free from desires immediately sees the pure title, the court of God.
Muhammad was cleansed from this fire and smoke, so wherever he turned his face, he saw the beauty of God. How can you know “Semme wajhullah” (See the Face of God) if you are accompanied by whispers that lead you to evil?
When a door opens in someone’s heart, the soul sees hundreds of suns in the heavens. Just as the moon appears among the stars, so does God appear among others. But place two fingers over your eyes; can you see anything? Have mercy!
Even if you do not see it, the world is not nonexistent. The fault lies only in the shom ego’s finger. Come to yourself! Remove your finger from your eye and see what you wish.
Noah’s people said to Noah, “Where is merit?” Noah said, ‘In the ways in which you clothe yourselves to avoid hearing and seeing.’ You clothed yourselves and wrapped your faces; therefore, though you have eyes, you do not see.”
Man is an eye. The rest is skin. And the eye is the eye that sees a friend. Better for man to be blind than to see his enemy. Even if he were as wise as Solomon, an ant would be more precious to him.
These new words transported the Roman emissary to the heavens and increased his longing to see Omar (RA). He fixed his gaze on searching for that emperor, lost his belongings, and lost his mount. He was chasing after a man of action, running everywhere frantically seeking him. “Does such a person exist in the world, hidden from this world like life itself?” he said.
He sought him to be a servant of God from his very being. Surely, those who seek find. A Bedouin woman saw that he was a stranger; understanding that he was seeking Omar (RA), she said, “Behold, right there, under that date palm tree; under the date palm tree, separated from the people, sleeping alone in the shade is God’s shadow.” The emissary came to that place and stood at a distance. When he saw Omar (RA), he began to tremble.
A majesty emanated from the sleeper to the emissary, and a pleasant state entered his heart. Although reverence and awe are opposites, he saw these two opposites uniting in his heart.
He said to himself, “I have seen many emperors; I have been acceptable to great sultans. I did not fear or tremble from them. This man’s majesty has taken my mind away. I plunged into forests where lions and tigers dwell, but my face never paled. I have fought in many battles; I received heavy wounds in battle, and wounded the enemies severely. In all these circumstances, my heart was stronger than others.
This man is lying unarmed on dry ground; my seven great seas are trembling. What is this? This majesty does not come from God or from people; this majesty does not come from that veiled man.”
Whoever fears God and follows the path of righteousness, all who see him will fear him—whether jinn or human. With this thought, he respectfully folded his hands. After a while, Omar (RA) awoke from sleep.
The emissary honored Omar (RA), greeted him. The Prophet said, “First greetings, then words.”
Omar (RA) accepted the greeting and called him to himself, comforted him, sat him down opposite him.
They reassure those who are fearful, soothe their hearts.