Finding god!
Are there many ways, for finding God?!
In today's world, people from different walks of life claim that there are many ways to find god; a musician may claim that through his music, he sees his god; a dancer may say that while dancing he has found his god; another claims that when he meditates his own way, he feels the closeness of his god; others claim that by worshiping a certain symbol, they have found and approached their god; another indicates that his hero, is the god that he was searching for; … ; i.e. people think that they are experiencing many ways to find god without limiting themselves to any specified way or religion. Are these claims correct?
There is a very fine and delicate point here. The people in the aforementioned examples and alike, are claiming that their destinations are their gods; that is exactly the point; their destination is not the unique God and Creator, rather their own created and personal gods.
But Qur'an clearly indicates that there is only one God:
There is no god and deity, but Allah, He is Living, … .
(Qur'an, Surah Baqarah, verse 255; …)
If you -as a unique person- have invited many guests to your home; surely all the guests who have accepted your invitation, will leave their homes toward the unique destination of your door in order to find you and respond to your invitation. Each one of these guests, following your guidance and the address you have given them-based on their location and position- may take a different route and path, and move toward the intended destination of your home, but no matter from which direction they come, in order to reach you, they will all have to follow the directions you have given them and finally must approach the unique street and "sabil (way)" where your home is and to the unique door and "baab (gateway)" which leads to you.
If we have recognized the Unique God who has invited us, as our Unique destination, then even if we are in different positions in life when we hear His invitation, and we start from different ways and routes, we have to follow His Guidance and adjust our directions toward His "Sabil" and "Baab" in order to find the one and only Him.
A surgeon may hear the Call by observing the unbelievable complexities of human body and through the astonishing harmony existing between all the complexities; a farmer may hear the same Call by observing a dead seed in the heart of dark and dead soil which turns into a living plant with many seeds that serve as the means for life; someone may hear the Call when facing a hardship, a disease, a plane crash, death of a loved one, bankruptcy,… ; others may feel God's invitation when observing the glorious birth of their child, watching a very ill friend regaining his health, experiencing an answered prayer,… ; another may hear the Call through a broken heart, by feeling left by others but not by God,… ; no matter what, every one who hears the Call from any way, they will all have to follow God's Guidance and Light, and move toward the Unique destination of the one and only Allah in order to get close to Him; and His "Sabil and Seraat (Path)" and "Baab (Gateway and Door)" is the unique destination and address to approach; approaching other destinations -i.e. imaginary gods-, will not only take a person not closer to the one and only Allah, but also will take him further and further away, no matter how close it may seem to him, because he is actually following a wrong address, and not Allah's Light and directions!
…And to whomsoever Allah does not give Light, he does not have Light …
(Qur'an, Surah Noor, verse 40)
Imam Sajjaad (PBUH) in the eighth of his "fifteen supplications" has said:
Glory be to Thee!
How narrow are the toroq (paths) for him whom Thou hast not Guided!
How clear the Truth for him whom Thou hast Guided on His Sabil and Way!
So make us travel on the Sobol (Paths) that arrive at Thee, and set us into motion on the Toroq (Paths) nearest to reaching Thee!
Make near for us the far, and make easy for us the hard and difficult!
Join us to Thy servants, those who hurry to Thee swiftly, knock constantly at Thy Baab (Door), and worship Thee by night and by day, while they remain apprehensive in Awe of Thee! …
(Mafaatih-Ol-Jenaan,… )
This is quite different from the examples which are mentioned in the first paragraph of this writing, in those examples the Unique God is not the destination, and different ways are taken to different man-made and imagined destinations which do not take human any closer to God, but rather closer to his own wishes and desires, and away from Allah; let us look at a glorious verse of Qur'an:
…And who is more erring than he who follows his desires without any Guidance from Allah; surely Allah does not Guide the unjust.
(Qur'an, Surah Qasas, verse 50)
Allah has chosen certain Pure and Knowledgeable Guides who constantly show us the way towards the one and only Allah, and without them we will definitely become lost, because we do not have Divine Knowledge, while they do. Imam Baaqer (PBUH) has said to Abu Hamzah -a very special companion-:
When one of you departs for kilometers, then he seeks a guide for himself; and you are more unaware in regard to the Toroq of Heavens that the paths of the earth, so, seek a Dalil (Guide) for yourselves.
(Al-Kaafi, 1st vol.; …)
Truly when we travel distances on earth, some how or another, we use guidance, certain times we use a trusted map as a guide, other times we ask directions from some one who knows the way and … . Mohammad and his Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) are the Allah-chosen and trained who know the Way, and their obedience is the Straight Seraat and Right Path, the Sabil and Baab which lead us towards Allah's Satisfaction. Imam Ali (PBUH) has said:
O' people! Ask me, before losing me; because I am more Knowledgeable in regard to the Toroq of Heavens… .
(Nahj-Ol-Balaaghah, Sermon No. 189; …)
Let us read together, a very meaningful verse of Qur'an:
And surely this is My (Allah's) Straight Seraat, therefore follow It; and follow not the sobol (paths), for they separate you from His Sabil; this He has enjoined you with, that you may guard against evil.
(Qur'an, Surah An'aam, verse 154)
The Sabil and Seraat to Allah, the Path to Allah, is only defined by Allah Himself; Allah-Willing now we may comprehend better why the Ahl-Ol-Bait (PBUT) are called the "Sabil and Seraat and Baab" of Allah, they are the Allah-chosen means through whom we get closer to Allah, and thru whom Allah's blessings are bestowed upon all beings.
O' our beloved Mahdi!
…Salaam be upon you, the Baab of Allah …
(Ziyaarat Aale-Yaa-Syn)
…O' son of the Clear Sobol!…
(Nodbah Supplication)
In the Ziyaarat Jaame'ah Kabirah, we address the Ahl-Ol-Bait and say:
…Salaam be upon, the Inviting Imams, and the Guiding Leaders, and the lords who are the Authority, and the Supporting Protectors, and the Ahl of Dhekr, and the Olol-Amr, and the Remaining by Allah, and His Chosen-ones, and His Party, and the Treasure-chest of His Knowledge, and His Hojjat, and His Seraat, and His Light, and His Proof; and the Rahmat of Allah and His Barakaat (be upon them) …