When He gives, He shows you His Kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power. And in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on how both gifts and deprivations are expressions of divine kindness and power, leading to a deeper understanding of God.
Ibn Ata Allah's quote posits that every experience in life, whether it's receiving blessings or facing challenges, serves to reveal the nature of God to us. By giving, God conveys His kindness and generosity, while by withholding, He demonstrates His authority and power. Ultimately, these experiences are opportunities for us to grow in our relationship with the divine, as they invite us to recognize His gentleness and loving guidance amidst all circumstances.
In practice
During a sermon on the nature of God, this quote can be used to illustrate how we perceive divine actions.
Whosoever is determined to seek guidance and follow a path of right conduct must search for a shaykh from amongst those who have realization, one who follows a path methodically, who has abandoned his passions, and who has firmly established his feet in the service of his Lord.
Actions are but lifeless forms whose soul is the secret of sincerity in them
Extinction is the beginning of the path: it is traveling to God Most High. Guidance comes afterwards. What I mean by guidance is the guidance of God, as described by the Friend of God, Abraham: "Lo! I am going unto my Lord Who will guide me."
God Most High has said, "Is the reward of virtue aught save virtue?" . . . Know, O man, that the covenant of servanthood is incumbent upon you, and that the covenant of Lordship is incumbent upon His magnanimity, as He Most High has said, ". . . and fulfill your covenant, I shall fulfill My covenant."
. . . persist in that invocation until the unity of the world is subsumed for you in a single sphere, so that with the eye of your heart you will see naught in the two worlds save the One.
The most excellent of those who perform good deeds are those who most often remember God in all situations.
Lord, give me firmness without hardness, steadfastness without dogmatism, love without weakness.
The way you are with others every day, regardless of their status, is the true test of faith.
I kept imagining these people, just living their daily lives, and then having them suddenly ended in unjust tragedy. When we watch the news, we grieve all of this, but when we go to the movies, we want more of it. Somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we are actually in. We think God is unjust, rather than a master storyteller.
God promised to make you free. He never promised to make you independent.
I am good to people who are good. I am also good to people who are not good. Because Virtue is goodness.
A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men.
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