THE FIFTY-SEVENTH DISCOURSE On not contesting destiny, and the commandment to keep oneself content therewith

All the different states of spiritual experiences are states of restraint because the wali is commanded to look after them. Whatever is ordered to be looked after brings restraint. Standing by the decree of Providence is invariably a state of ease, because there is nothing there which one is commanded to look after except his own being in existence in the decree of Destiny. So it is necessary that the wali should not dispute in the matter of the decree of Destiny. He should rather be in accord and not make any contention in regard to all that may happen to him, whether it be sweet or bitter. The states of experience are limited, so it is commanded that the limits should be guarded. On the other hand, the act of God, which is destiny, has no limits that are to be guarded. The indication that the servant of God has attained the station of Destiny and act of God and that of ease is that he is commanded to ask for enjoyments after he has been commanded to discard them and keep away from them, because when his inside is emptied of enjoyments and nothing remains in him except the Lord, he is made at ease and is commanded to ask and long for and want things that are his portion, and which he is sure to receive and attain by his asking for them, so that his dignity in the sight of God and his position and the favour of God, the Mighty, the Glorious, in the acceptance of his prayer, may become established facts. To use one's tongue for asking in the matter of gifts of enjoyments are mostly indications of ease after restraint, and exit from all states of experience and stations, and from the strains of keeping within the bounds. If it is objected that this disappearance of the difficulty of keeping the law leads to atheism and exit from Islam and to dismissal of God's word. And serve thy Lord, until there comes death to thee (15:99), my reply would be that this does not mean that God is very generous and His friend is very dear to Him so much so that He cannot allow him to occupy a position of defect, and one that is ugly in the eye of His law and religion. On the contrary, He saves him from all that has been discussed and turns him away from them and protects him and keeps him alert and directs him to the keeping of the bounds of law. So he acquires protection against sin and keeps within the bounds of the law without any effort and struggle from himself, while he is not conscious of this performance on account of his being in the nearness of his Lord, the Mighty, the Glorious. God says: Thus (it was) that We might turn away from him evil and indecency. Surely he was one of Our chosen servants (12:24). He also says: ' As regards My servants, thou hast no authority over them (15:42). And He also says: Save the servants of Allah, the purified ones (37:40). O poor man! such a person is held aloft by God and is His object, and He nourishes him in the lap of His nearness and His kindness. How can the devil approach him and how can evil and disagreeable things get near to him? How is it that you keep away from nourishment and pay your homage to position? You have said a bad thing. May such a vile and mean courage and faulty intelligence and ill-conceived opinion be destroyed by His all-comprehensive power and perfect kindness and extensive mercy! May He cover us by coverings that are perfect and able to keep off sins and to protect us, and may He nourish us, by His perfect blessings and abiding favours through His spontaneous act of kindness!