Pearls of Wisdom 324

1. Practice what you have learned, for theory without practice is like a spirit without a body. One who is content with learning alone is not learned, for the truly learned seek more than mere words. Divine guidance entails self-mortification, without which contemplation is unattainable.

2. Fear and hope are two pillars of faith. By practicing either one of them a person will not fall into error, because both fear and hope lead to union. Those who fear devote themselves to God through fear of separation from Him, and those who hope worship in hope of realizing the ultimate union.

3. When Moses conversed with God, he asked, "Lord, where shall I seek You?"
    God answered, "Among the brokenhearted."
    Moses continued, "But, Lord, no heart could be more despairing than mine."
    And God replied, "Then I am where you are."

4. The lower soul dissuades from conforming to faith. The more the self is subdued, the easier it becomes to glorify God. When the ego is annihilated, worship becomes sustenance, just as it sustains the angels.

5. Those who believe everything to be created by God see Him in everything.They find comfort in regarding the Creator and not His creation. All problems stem form the illusion that created things hold the ultimate power. Turn to Him, therefore, if your seek deliverance.

6. Angels were created without lust and evil, the worst obstacles of humankind. Those who despite their evil nature remain pious excel angels in rank. Enthused by their purity angels denounced the human race, so God chose three angels to go to the earth and reform its inhabitants. One angel, espying the corruption, begged God to let him return. The other two, in their earthly form, gave in to lust and fell from grace. Thus God revealed to the other angels the superiority of the devout. [Shaykh Ali al Hujwiri]