Knowledge, Reverence, Obedience

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مَن عَظَّمَ وَقَارَ اللهِ فِي قَلْبِهِ أَنْ يَعْصِيَهُ وَقَّرَهُ اللّهُ فِي قُلُوبِ الْخَلْقِ أَنْ يُذِلُّوهُ

Whoever holds Allah's reverence so great in his heart that it prevents him from disobeying Him, Allah will place such reverence in the hearts of people that they will not humiliate him.

إِذَا عَلِقَتْ شُرُوشُ الْمَعْرِفَةِ فِي أَرْضِ الْقَلْبِ نَبَتَتْ فِيهِ شَجَرَةُ الْمَحَبَّةِ

When the roots of knowledge take hold in the soil of the heart, the tree of love grows there.

فَإِذَا تَمَكَّنَتْ وَقَوِيَتْ أَثْمَرَتْ الطَّاعَةُ

If it becomes established and strong, it bears the fruit of obedience.

فَلَا تَزَالُ الشَّجَرَةُ تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ رَبِّهَا

The tree continues to yield its fruit at all times by the permission of its Lord.

أَوَّلُ مَنَازِلِ الْقَوْمِ ذِكْرُ اللهِ كَثِيرًا وَتَسْبِيحُهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

The first stage of the journey is frequent remembrance of God and glorifying Him morning and evening.

وَأَوْسَطُهَا صَلَوَاتُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ لِيُخْرِجَهُ اللّهُ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ

The middle stage involves the angels’ prayers for the servant to be brought out from darkness to light by God.

وَآخِرُهَا تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُ سَلَامٌ

And the final stage is their greeting of peace on the day they meet Him.

أَرْضُ الْفِطْرَةِ رَحْبَةٌ قَابِلَةٌ لِمَا يُغْرَسُ فِيهَا

The soil of innate disposition is expansive and receptive to what is planted in it.

فَإِنْ غُرِسَتْ شَجَرَةُ الإِيمَانِ وَالتَّقْوَى أَوْرَثَتْ حَلَاوَةَ الأَبَدِ

If the tree of faith and piety is planted, it yields the sweetness of eternity.

وَإِنْ غُرِسَتْ شَجَرَةُ الجَهْلِ وَالْهَوَى كَانَ الثَّمَرُ مُرًّا

If the tree of ignorance and desire is planted, the fruit will be bitter.

فَارْجِعْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاطْلُبْهُ مِنْ عَيْنِكَ وَسَمْعِكَ وَقَلْبِكَ وَلِسَانِكَ

Return to God and seek Him with your eyes, ears, heart, and tongue.

وَلَا تَشْرُدْ عَنْهُ بِهَذِهِ الْأَرْبَعَةِ

Do not let these four stray from Him.

فَمَن رَجَعَ إِلَى اللهِ بِتَوْفِيقِهِ فَإِنَّمَا رَجَعَ بِهَا

Whoever returns to Allah by His guidance, only truly returns through them.

وَمَن شَرَدَ عَنْهُ بِخِذْلَانِهِ فَإِنَّمَا شَرَدَ بِهَا

And whoever strays from Him by His forsaking, only truly strays through them.