And as this lofty state is not possible for persons like us...

And as this lofty state is not possible for persons like us, nor is it expected under our present condition, behaving ourselves in the presence of the Creator is to remember our shortcomings, humility, failure, inability and distress, and, in a state of shamefulness, we are to face the Holy threshold and plead: O Allah!

Of the states of the holy men [ awliyā' ], the steps [ madārij ] of the Chosen [ asfiyā' ] , the perfection of the sincere and the sulūk of the sālik s we have no share but a few words. Instead of striving for high states we are satisfied with idle talk, of which there avails nothing in quality nor in spirituality. O Lord!

Loving this world and its attractions bars us from the Holy Court and the presence of your intimacy, unless you, with your hidden kindness help us, the helpless, so as to make up for what has passed, that we may rise from our sleep of negligence and find our way to Your Holy Presence. [^1]: Sūrah al-A'rāf 7:29. Previous…