Do Battle on These Terms

BismillahirRahmanirRahim

"Here I am, summoning you to violent death in the Name of Allah (that is to say, to combat with the ego, the passions, and the natural impulses). Who will dare to respond? Who will step forward to meet the challenge? Who will show that he has the courage for it? Who will be prepared to take the risk? This means death, but then life everlasting. Do not run away! Endure with patience, and then with still more patience. Courage is an hour's patience. You must be patient with your compliance with your Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He). If there is one among you who can bear the burden of readiness to accept the divine decree, Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He) will relieve him of it, and He will inscribe him in the register of the brave. When someone is ready to sacrifice himself, he acquires a sense of certainty. When someone knows what he is looking for, he attaches little importance to what he must spend in order to attain his goal.

Be sure of where you stand, and then make haste. Come here on the footing of sincerity, so that you may knock at the door of the Lord of Truth (Almighty and Glorious is He). You must stay there as long as it takes, until the door is opened for you. You may as well be importunate in asking Him for the things you need, since this will do you more good than your importunity toward your king and potentates and wealthy patrons.

Follow the example set by your predecessors in their quest for their Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He) and their total absorption in Him."

- (Hazret Abdul Kadir Geylani ks)
[Jala Al-Khawatir, tr. M. Holland]