In the name of the Almighty,
In the year 1377 of the lunar Hijri calendar, a letter was dispatched from the sacred city of Mashhad to one of my beloved friends.
May I be ransomed for you[1]! My dear, one of the duties after awakening and realizing the perilous valley we’ve been in is to make amends. It includes seeking forgiveness and repenting for the past, resolving not to revert to former actions and behaviours, fulfilling people’s rights, and seeking absolution from obligations.
My dear, you must avoid those who are heedless and engage in misconduct, by the right of capability and strength, lest they return you to your previous state.[2]
My dear, sit with those of remembrance and those who guide you towards God, even if they are an Abyssinian slave, a pauper, or anyone else.
My dear, always and everywhere, with everyone, maintain vigilance; that means, do not conduct your actions, behaviours, and speech without a divine or otherworldly purpose in mind[3], and consider the Almighty as the observer of your deeds to prevent falling into heedlessness.
My dear, do not slacken in your worship, so that gradually the veils of darkness may lift from the heart’s eye, due to worship and obedience to the Truth, acquainting you with that Sacred Entity and His saints.[4]
My dear, avoid the forbidden and neglecting obligations, for significant discipline lies herein.
My dear, do not neglect performing commendable acts and avoiding detestable ones, for they bring you closer[5] to the Truth and repair heedlessness: “Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.[6]“
My dear, do not neglect the vigil of the night, nor overlook imploring and earnest supplication, for they are the best supports and means of drawing closer for the seeker.
My dear, ensure you approach all your actions with vitality, for an action performed without enthusiasm may not yield any beneficial outcome for the seeker. However, it’s also crucial to disregard Satan’s whisperings saying, “You lack enthusiasm”; because sometimes, you may not feel enthusiastic at the beginning of an act, but as you engage in it, vitality emerges.
My dear, observe the beginning of the time in the five daily prayers, for it leads to the desired, God willing.
My dear, among your limbs, take extra care of your tongue more than the others, for it can lead the seeker, even the world, to ruin.[7]
[1] This is an expression of love, a kind of love that is like between a mother or father for their child… so it is the relationship between the teacher and the wayfarer student.
[2] The Holy Quran in Surah Al-Furqan Ayah 28 says, ﴿يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا﴾ – “Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.” And in Al-Kafi V2. P642, “ المرء على دين خليله و قرينه.” – “”The person is on the religion of his friend and his companion.”
[3] In the realm of accounting, a progression unfolds across four tiers in general. Initially, individuals are driven by a pursuit of reward and a desire to evade punishment. Subsequently, a deeper motivation emerges—to seek the Creator’s satisfaction. As understanding deepens, the third level entails embracing the omnipresence of divine influence. Ultimately, the pinnacle is reached with the dissolution of the self, marking a profound transformation in one’s spiritual journey.
[4] It must be noted that anyone seeking attainment of higher spiritual levels must first abide by this… other pieces of advice would be secondary to this. Imam Ali a.s. in Nahj al-Balagha is stated to have said: إذا أضرت النوافل بالفرائض فارفضوها, meaning “If recommended acts of worship conflict with obligatory ones, forsake the recommended acts”.
[5] Closeness holds a dual significance, both materialistic and metaphysical. In the physical realm, proximity entails reciprocal closeness between objects. However, in the spiritual dimension, this reciprocity isn’t guaranteed. Despite Allah SWT being closer to us than our own jugular veins, our own negligence may hinder our closeness to Him. Thus, our paramount task lies in lifting the veil of negligence to draw nearer to the Divine.
Consider the analogy of a mother and child on a school camp: While the mother remains ever vigilant, nurturing thoughts of her child’s well-being, the child may be engrossed in camp activities, giving scant regard to the mother’s concerns. Similarly, in our journey towards Allah SWT, we must transcend distractions and heedlessness, actively striving for spiritual proximity. By aligning our thoughts and actions with divine consciousness, we inch closer to the ultimate source of guidance and love.
[6] Surah Hud, Ayah 114.
[7] Imam Ali in Nahj al-Balagha: لسان العاقل وراء قلبه، وقلب الأحمق وراء لسانه.
“The tongue of the wise is behind his heart, while the heart of the fool is behind his tongue.”
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