Exemplary Conduct

A discerning person should have some special moments: a moment of communion with God; a moment of self-examination; a moment of reflection over the mysteries of creation; and a moment which he puts aside for eating and drinking.16 In other words, this is how God’s faithful servant passes the day. Sometimes the yearning of his soul brings him so close to God that he finds something in communion with the Lord. Sometimes the fear of the day when he will be brought before the Lord for reckoning makes him reckon with himself. Sometimes he is so overawed by the marvels of God’s creation that he starts seeing the splendours of the Creator reflected therein. Thus, he encounters the Lord, himself, and the world around him while finding time to cater to his physical needs. These words are not a description of some remote being; they are a reflection of the Prophet’s personality, a flash from the light of faith that illuminated his heart. These “moments” were an integral part of the Prophet’s life. One who has not experienced these states can never describe them in such a lofty manner. The soul from which these words emanated was in the state they represent; through words, that state of spiritual perfection was communicated to others. Before he received the word of God, this world—with all its shortcomings and limitations—appeared meaningless