This tradition speaks of two fundamental kinds of proximity...

This tradition speaks of two fundamental kinds of proximity: (a) proximity attained through obligatory deeds ( qurb al-fara’idh ), and (b) proximity attained through supererogatory deeds ( qurb al-nawafil ). Thar Allah refers to the first level. In this level it is the servant who becomes the instrument of Allah. Almighty Allah Sees, Hears, and Speaks through His servant.

This should not lead one to conjecture that Allah is in need of His servant, for the latter’s very existence as well as subsistence entirely depend on Allah’s volition. Being an instrument of Allah rather shows the utter obedience of the servant and his unity with Divine volition. Perhaps Imam al-Husayn (AS)’s well-known dictum ‘ Ridha Allah Ridhana ’ (The pleasure of Allah is our pleasure, the (AS)[^8] refers to this very state.

The servant in this state becomes عَيْنُ الله ‘aynullah (the eyes of Allah), يََدُالله yadullah (the hand of Allah) or ثَارَالله” tharullah ” (blood of Allah), which means that He employs these intermediaries of the elevated human being to do what He decides. Hashim bin…