Possibly...

Possibly, he might take ten steps ahead and twenty steps back, goes four levels high but falls into a deep pit. Therefore, on the basis of our belief, the entire theory of Historical Determinism is refuted. That is, historical progress does not necessarily ensure perfection because history is not like a flower that blossoms in the due course of time. We can evaluate the journey of perfection nicely at this juncture.

Like, we can say that next year if we come here for Iftaar96, this flower will have reached to this height of the wall, traversing the path of natural growth because this journey is regulated and hence, involuntary. Of course, since this flower does come in contact with the free and independent man, it is also quite possible that children might pluck it. But if left alone and the required conditions are provided for, it will certainly acquire certain perfection. But man is not so.

You and I are in a certain level of spiritual perfection. In particular, in the blessed month of Ramazan, we have ascended a few steps via fasting, prayers, supplications, etc. and traversed a distance in our quest for perfection. But a few weeks after this holy month, when we indulge in selfappraisal, we will realize that we don’t possess that same light and resplendence in our spirituality that we enjoyed at the end of this holy month.

It is also not that we will pause at the level of the progress that we have made. Rather, it would not be surprising if we even go a few steps backwards. Secondly, every individual, in his pursuit to attain the status of a worshipper and divine caliphate, requires two things: One, he must know the mode of quest and second, (after knowing) he must strive and make efforts. In other words, knowledge and action, both are pre-requisites to achieve this aim.

Thus, man can fly with these two wings and can reach the highest of peaks and conquer the zenith of perfection. Knowledge (i.e. the mode of quest) should be conveyed to him and thereafter, the onus of action and implementation of this knowledge on a personal level lies on him. Therefore, Prophets (a.s.) used to come and inform the people that the mode of pursuit to attain divine caliphate is this, so move and march ahead. If he obeys, he becomes a divine caliph.

He does not wait to move along with history. Such is the speed of his progress that soon he becomes a perfect man.