Selections from Revelations of the Unseen by Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī: Discourses 1-6, Part 2 of 2

“Your extinction to self-will through the action of Allah is indicated by your never formulating any personal goal, your lack of selfish interest, and the fact that you no longer feel any want or craving, for besides the will of Allah you wish for nothing else. Instead, the action of Allah is at work in you, so that while you are experiencing Allah’s will and action your limbs become relaxed, your mind becomes calm and your feelings widen, your face begins to glow and your inner being thrives. In contact with their Creator, you feel no need of things. The hand of Power will turn you every way about, and the tongue of Eternity will summon you. The Lord of all religions will teach you, and clothe you in beams of His own light and special raiment, and install you among those possessed of ancient knowledge.” “‘Now you will be admitted to the company of those whose hearts have been shattered, their human will-power broken and their natural appetites eliminated, and who have then been re-endowed - but with a Will Sublime [Rabbaniyya: ‘pertaining to the Lord’]. Allah (Exalted is He) has said: ‘I am with those who are brokenhearted on My account.’ So Allah (Exalted is He) will not be with you until you totally disown your desire and your will. When these are broken, and you contain nothing stable or useful, Allah will create you afresh and install in you a new power of will for you to exercise. If any element of self creeps into this newly created will, however, the Lord (Exalted is He) will smash it again. You will always be left broken-hearted, because He will repeat this process until the book of destiny ends with reunion. This is the meaning of: ‘I am with those who are broken-hearted on My account.’”