Today, above all else, we are in need of a generation that is conscientious in fulfilling their duty toward God. We need ideal people who can serve as guides to our society; guides who will save humanity from the accursed abysses of disbelief, ignorance, error, the anarchy we have been trying to survive for the last few centuries; guides that will lead to faith, insight, the correct destination, and peace. In each and every era of depression, there have been minds that have enlightened the masses suffering from religious, intellectual, social, financial, and moral depression; these minds have reinterpreted human beings, the universe and existence in its entirety, and they have even reinterpreted the backstage of existence, removing obstacles in our processes of thought and feeling. Thanks to such exceptional people of thought, many times humanity have transformed their death shroud to a garment. They have brought new interpretations to things and phenomena, recited the “book of existence” like a song—a book which, in the perceptions of shallow minds, had lost its color and luster and taken on a dim hue, feeling it to its very depths; they have observed this book – the universe – with a sense of awe as if beholding a spectacular exhibition. They have unraveled the truths hidden in the heart of the universe by analyzing things season by season, paragraph by paragraph.

The most important characteristic of such auspicious people is their faith – a faith they work tirelessly to make others experience too. With this faith and these efforts they believe that they will be able to surmount everything and reach God, that they can attain true peace, be able to turn the world into a paradise and set up their tent in Eden. The joy of their destination makes them perceive life and serving others as a journey along the valleys of heaven.

As a matter of fact, “faith,” regardless of how deep it may be, has such a positive influence on humanity that no system of thought, doctrine or ideology can compare to it. When faith enters hearts within its own frame of reference, the person’s thoughts concerning the universe, natural phenomena, and God all suddenly change, deepening and reaching a vastness which allows them to evaluate all existence as if it were the pages of an open book. Everything suddenly comes to life, becomes a friend, and gives them a compassionate hug – things that had once seemed meaningless, lifeless, and unappealing. In this heart-warming atmosphere, people begin to sense themselves to the extent of their true worth; they understand that they are a conscious and unique part of existence; they attain the mysteries of the long, winding paths between the pages and lines of the universe; they feel that they are close to grasping the secret that lies behind the veil of all things; and then they are set free from the narrow prison of this three dimensional world, finding themselves in the stretches of eternity.

Indeed, all believers, through the thoughts which flow in the depths of their identity and in accordance with the degree of their faith, become boundless within their bounds; even though they are bound by space and time, they become paragons of unrestricted beings, reaching the ranks of those that are above and beyond the concerns of space, listening to the angels’ melodies. These beings, created from a drop of fluid, from what appears to be a shapeless pulp—what seems to be an insignificant creature, but what is in reality truly great—gains such importance that the Earth becomes the stage for the discovery of the divine breath contained in his or her soul. And, they become such creatures that they no longer fit between the skies and the Earth, becoming a transcendent being reaching between the two poles.

 They walk amongst us; sit with us; their feet step where our feet step and they place their head when praying on the same spot that we do, but they manage to unite their feet and their head, thus becoming a circle. They use their prostration as a ramp on the path to nearness to God, and in a single step, they reach the horizon of becoming one of those closest to Him. They spread their wings in the same skies as the spirits and live like celestial beings in a human state. Such hearts always surpass individuality with the development and expansion of humane feelings; they become, as it were, a collective personality and embrace all believers; they lend a hand to everyone and salute creation in its entirety with the sincerest of feelings. They see colors, watch shapes, and are aware of the sounds of holy visions in everything and everyone that they encounter; they listen to the sounds of heaven on every possible frequency and feel as if they can hear the beating of angels’ wings. They see, feel, and listen to a vast ceremony of beauties: from the terrifying bolts of thunder to the revelatory songs of the birds, from the crashing waves of the sea to the gentle sound of the rivers that awaken a sense of eternity, from the magical reverberations of solitary woods to the majestic tones of awe-inspiring peaks that seem to reach the heavens, from the whispering breezes that caress green hills to the enrapturing scents that rise from gardens and spread everywhere; they say “this must be life.” They strive to honor each breath with prayers, reflection, and by uttering and contemplating the Beautiful Names of God.

With their forehead always on the ground, they open and close their eyes in hope, watching the threshold of a door they long to see open—waiting for a familiar gaze. With yearning, they look beyond the door, anticipating the honored hour when absence and separation will fade, and peace and closeness will descend like a sacred calm upon their soul. They search for answers to the desire for reunion that stirs deep within. Sometimes flying, sometimes limping along the earth, they keep running toward Him, unified with everyone and everything. At every resting point, they taste a new shade of reunion, a “wedding night”[1] of the soul. At each turn, they extinguish one fire of longing, only to be kindled anew by another spark. Who knows how many times a day they find themselves surrounded by breezes of divine closeness, and how many times they are shaken with sorrow at the loneliness of those who remain deaf to such gifts.

Indeed, souls that have such broadened horizons feel themselves constantly ascending a ramp toward new realms, always brimming with resolve and determination to transcend human norms. They think of what further abilities they will be able to attain and what successes they will achieve with faith and the power behind that faith. They keep running without exhaustion, with their horizon and prospect always open, and their hearts at peace. At every station their relationship with their environment grows and deepens. They may or may not be aware of it, but when they listen to their souls, they see themselves on a never-ending mountain side of peace. Despite the numerous motifs of longing and loneliness that they witness in other people, they never feel the agony of the road or homesickness because they know where they have come from, why and where they are headed, aware of all the harvesting and dispersion in the world, and they know that they are running on a particular track with a fixed purpose and aim. They feel neither the weariness of the road, nor experience the fears, worries, or agonies that other people do. They trust in God, striding with hope and tasting the joy of reaching the summit that holds the sky-blue dreams of tomorrow.

Indeed, along the path on which the world strides, these chivalrous heroes of faith advance in proportion to their faith, as if they were strolling along the valleys of Heaven, breathing nothing but peace. At the same time, through their connection with God, they can challenge the entire universe, overcome any difficulty, and never fall into despair, even when surrounded by destruction. They do not recoil in terror even when hells appear before them. They always hold their head high and never bow except before God. They concede nothing to anyone, they expect nothing from anyone, nor do they make themselves indebted to anyone. When they are victorious and attain one success after another, they shake with fear at the comprehension that this is in fact a test of their loyalty and submission to God, while at the same time they are humbled with gratitude and shed tears of joy. They know how to be patient when they lose and are tensed with determination. They start their journey anew with a sharpened will. They do not become arrogant or ungrateful in the face of bounty nor do they fall into despair when they suffer deprivation.

They carry a prophet-like heart in their exchanges with people. They love and embrace everyone; they turn a blind eye to the faults of others, while at the same time they are able to question the smallest faults of their own. They forgive the faults of those around them, not only under normal conditions, but also at times when they feel angered; they know how to live peacefully with even the most irritable of souls. In fact, belief urges its followers to forgive as much as possible, and not to fall prey to feelings of rancor, hatred, or revenge; in any case, it is inconceivable that those who are conscious of being on the path toward God should or could be any other way. To behave or think in any other way is out of the question. On the contrary, in all their actions, they seek ways to benefit others, they wish well for others, and they strive to keep the love in their hearts alive—waging a constant battle against rancor and hatred. They feel the heat of their own faults and sins, burning with remorse, and each day, they seize the evil thoughts within themselves by the throat. They start their work willingly and prepare the ground for the seedlings of good and beauty everywhere. In the footsteps of Rabi‘a al-‘Adawiyya they accept everyone and everything as a sweet syrup, even though it may be poison; even when they are approached with hatred, they welcome all with a smile. They repel even the greatest armies with the indefatigable weapon of love.

God loves these people, and they love God. They are constantly moved by the excitement of divine love and experience the radiant joy of being loved in return. Their wings of humility rest upon the earth, for they know that to give birth to roses, one must become like the soil. As deeply as they respect others, they also uphold their own dignity—never allowing their compassion, gentleness, or refinement to be mistaken for weakness. Unconcerned with praise or criticism, they live by their faith alone. Their only concern is to keep the brilliance of their inner world intact—for they have resolved to be true believers.

[1] The term Rumi uses for death.