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MAN’S
WORSHIP CONSISTS OF TWO ASPECTS
Man‘s worship
consists of two aspects.
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One is implicit
and concerns reflection and consciousness.
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The other is
visible prayer, done in direct supplication in the presence of God.
The first aspect is
that man confirms submissively the Sovereignty of His Lordship over the
creation, and observes in amazement the works of His Beauty and Perfection.
He then draws the
attention of his fellow beings to the intricate, ornamented works of art that
consist in the manifestations of the sacred Divine Names. He also measures in
‘units’ of due perception and discernment the gems of the Lord’s Names,
each of which is a hidden spiritual treasure, and evaluates them with grateful
appreciation of heart.
Then he makes a close
study of the pages of creation, the sheets of heavens and earth, each of which
is a missive of Divine Power, and contemplates them in great admiration.
Afterwards, as he gazes
in amazement and admiration upon the subtle ornamentation and refined skills in
creation, he ardently desires to know their Beautiful Creator and yearns to
enter His Presence, where he hopes to be received into His favor.
The second aspect is
that man turns towards his Majestic Creator, Who wants Himself to be known
through the miracles of His artistry. The man unburdens himself to Him in
sincere belief and tries to acquire knowledge of Him.
Then he discerns that a
Compassionate Lord wants Himself to be loved through the beautiful fruits of
His Compassion. In response, he makes himself loved by Him by devoting his love
and adoration to Him.
He also sees that a
Generous Provider nourishes him with the best and dearest of His material and
spiritual favors. He responds to Him with gratitude and praise, expressed
through all his works, deeds, lifestyle and, if possible, all his senses and
faculties.
He then observes that a
Lord of Beauty and Majesty manifests Himself in the mirror of beings, and draws
attentions to His Glory and Perfection, and His Majesty and Beauty. So he says
in response, ‘God is the Greatest! Glory be to God!’ and he prostrates
before Him in wonder and adoration.
He also notices that One
of Absolute Riches displays His limitless wealth and treasuries in an
infinitely generous fashion. In response to this, he glorifies and praises Him
and, displaying his need, he asks Him for His favors.
Then he observes that
the Majestic Creator has arranged the earth like an exhibition, where He is
displaying all His matchless works. He too appreciates them in response, and
says, ‘What wonders God has willed and created!’, confirms their beauty and
says, ‘God bless them!’, shows his wonder and says, ‘Glory be to God!’,
and expresses his admiration saying, ‘God is the Greatest!’
Also, he sees that the
Unique One demonstrates His Oneness in the whole of the creation through His
particular signs and His peculiar decrees, and also His inimitable stamps and
seals which He has put on each one of His creatures. He inscribes on everything
the signs of His Oneness, and raises throughout the world the flag of His
Unity, thus proclaiming His Lordship. To this the man responds with belief,
affirmation, admission of, and testimony to, His Unity and with devotion and
sincere worship.
By all such types of
worship and reflection man may attain true humanity. He may demonstrate that he
is the best pattern of creation, and through the grace of faith, become a
trustworthy vicegerent of God on earth.
Now, O heedless man, who
goes in the direction of the lowest of the low by misusing his will, although
he has been created as the best pattern of the creation, listen to me! In order
to see how ugly the face of the world is which turns toward passions and
desires, and, by contrast, how extraordinarily beautiful is its other face
which turns towards the Hereafter, you may have a look at the ‘Tables’
given below.
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