There is an answer to every call; those who call on God, to them God comes.
Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Related Material by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
Compiled by Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist – wahiduddin.net
There is no doubt that if an individual or a multitude believe that a teacher or a reformer will come, the teacher or reformer will surely come to them. Similarly, in the case of those who do not believe that any teacher or reformer will come, to them none will come. To those who expect the Teacher to be a man, a man will bring the message; to those who expect the Teacher to be a woman, a woman must deliver it. To those who call on God [ beyond gender ], God [ beyond gender ] comes. To those who knock at the door of Satan, Satan answers. There is an answer to every call.
There is nothing that you ask that this universe will not answer. For it is the nature of this universe to answer your soul’s call. … When you seek for something in the universe and you cannot find it, it is not true that it is not there. The fact is that you do not see it.
( from the Sufi Message Series, Volume XIII – The Gathas:
Series II, Nakshi Bandi (Symbology) )
[ To a certain extent, we are often only able to perceive (and make sense of) the answer that comes, from within the context and limitations of our own existing beliefs, preconceived ideas, expectations, hopes and fears, and our projections, since they all act as filters that modulate or even distort unfiltered Reality. When the answer comes so strongly that it bypasses, or even overwhelms our customary and comfortable filters, it can seem distressing, or uprooting, or perhaps contradictory to what we believe, or expect, and so forth, which may result in our rejecting the answer, or perhaps even being unable to perceive that any answer has come. — Muiz ]
The One who is always there has said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega. I exist every moment. When you call me, I am there. Knock at the door, and I will answer you.’ And those whose eyes are open do not need to go to a church and look at a picture or statue of the Lord. In the eyes of every infant, in the smile of every innocent child, they receive the blessing of Christ.
It only means changing one’s outlook on life, and recognizing the Divine in others. But people have ignored the divine spirit that manifests in humanity, and always prefer an idol, a painting, a picture, to the living God, who is constantly before them. For the sages, the seers, the saints, and the yogis who begin to see the the Spirit of Guidance, and see It living, there is no place where It cannot be seen. Then everywhere the Beloved is ready to answer the cry of the soul coming from friend, parent or teacher. And if we go a little further forward, we will find that the Teacher speaks aloud, not only through living beings, but through nature. If the eyes and ears are open, the leaves of the trees become as pages of the Bible. If the heart is alive, the whole life becomes one single vision of That sublime beauty, speaking to us at every moment.
Commentary by Murshid S.A.M. (Sufi Ahmed Murad)
Samuel L. Lewis
Jesus Christ has said, “Not every one who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the realm of Heaven, but they that do the Will of God.” This is very important and a mighty teaching. To call upon God one not only needs to use a Name of God — or the Name may be dispensed with under certain conditions — but other names, thoughts and desires must be rejected at that time.
Nevertheless, every call, whether expressed in speech or thought, rises to its proper sphere and returns to earth. If it is confined to the karmic sphere, it brings its natural fruit, but if it is united to pure will, it brings something Divine. So the speech or prayer to God, not coupled with any thought, feeling or emotion which would return to the nufs, reaches God.
This does not bring God to one, God is already there; but it enables the person to recognize and realize God and to serve God so that God’s success and humanity’s success are one.