September 10': True Face (Article of the Month)

True Face
Rehan Ahmed Yusufi
Translated by Bilal Khan

“Teacher, please tell me how can one find out where one stands in the eyes of God? Is there a mirror that can show one’s real image?” The enquirer paused for a moment and then further elaborated his query: “I know the response people usually give is to see how one perceives God himself or that the extent to which one follows and values the Divine Legislation will be reflected in the way God views us. However, one can easily deceive one’s self with these internal hidden measures. Can you tell me an external and visible measure in which a person may appear in his true and original form?”
 
As per habit, the head of the learned one was bowed. After the question was completed the learned one raised his head and  asked the enquirer whilst staring at him: “Are you aware of the people who took precedence in accepting faith in Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?” He noded but did not reply. The wise man answered his own question: “His wife Khadijatul Kubra (ra), dear friend Abu-Bakr (ra), adopted son Zaid bin Haris (ra) and his cousin Ali (ra) who was also under his guardianship. Do you know what was the common feature among all of them?”
 
This time the learned one waited for a response. The answer came from another participant, "they were the ones nearest to the Prophet pbuh". The learned one replied, "this is a fact, albeit only half of it..." He paused momentarily and then continued forwards his conversation:

“The fact of the matter is that all these people were either dependant on the Prophet (pbuh) or his relationship with them was of such a nature that it was impossible to conceal anything from them. Wife is a life partner who stands by you through the good and bad times, day and night. Friends remain loyal in all alterations of personality and the dependants  witness every variation of temperament; all of them have an unequivocal insight and access that no one else close to you can possess.

A person is fully exposed morally in front of his wife. Friends see one without all the formalities and etiquettes  of attitude and personality. In dealings with dependants one's personality and psyche is heavily influenced by thoughts of benefit and dominance. Only in these three situations is a person's true self apparent because he cannot pretend, he appears in his true self. This is the mirror in which God sees the true face of an individual".

There was a hushed silence in the gathering. The voice of the wise man was getting louder and was piercing into the hearts of the audience. Following his last sentence the learned man went quiet and the thick blanket of silence enveloped the hearing of every one in the gathering. For a long time no voice rose to break this silence. At last the learned man addressed the enquirer and spoke very softly to him.

“It is these instances of informality and dealings with the weak that determine your status in the eyes of God”.

 

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