THE ESSENCE OF ALL WORSHIP

and manifests itself in the form of divinely inspired words. His thoughts are on how life started, and how it will end­—what came before the world and what will come afterwards. We cannot think of a sun which refuses to shine, or a computer which has no operator. But when we look at the world, we behold great spectacles which all appear to be of their own fashioning. There is art but no artist, masterpieces but no fashioner, coordination but no coordinator, movement but no mover, life but no life-giver. Dhikr is to cross this chasm, to see beyond the world of visible forms to the invisible force that lies beyond; to see the face of the Creator hidden in the veil of His crea­tion. The feelings which he experiences at such a time and the words with which he expresses his feelings are what make up dhikr. The night of July 16, 1969, was one of tremendous action in newspaper offices the world over. The first man on the moon, Neil Arm­strong, had made his landing. The news editor of one daily newspaper was sitting back in his chair. A pile of papers lay stacked before him on the desk. When asked about the latest news, he said: “A lot of very thrilling news is coming in.” When people hear of man traveling from the earth to the moon, they feel a “thrill”. How is then, that they do not feel thrilled to see the earth and the moon, and the staggering coordination that lies between them? Dhikr is to change the target of one’s vision, to become excited at the work of God, as people normally become excited at the work of man. o When people hear of man traveling from the earth to the moon, they feel a “thrill”. How is then, that they do not feel thrilled to see the earth and the moon, and the staggering coordination that lies between them? USA Centre for Peace and Spirituality 2665 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020 kkaleemuddin@gmail.com