THE WORLD OF LIGHT
To see God, to see the Light, is one of the primary goals of Sufism. The 18th century Naqshbandi Sufi Nasir Muhammad ‘Andalib said that one should “strive to bring himself towards this light….”16 Once again, though, the most exquisite sense of being drawn to the Light is provided in poetic form. Mansur al-Hallaj lets us know that once one becomes aware of the presence of God and His Light, there is no turning back: Mansur al-Hallaj took sentiments such as these to their logical conclusion. Hallaj declared, in Arabic, “Ana ‘l-Haqq,” meaning “I am the Truth,” or “I am God.” Orthodox Muslims took this to be blasphemy of the worst kind — no man can declare himself to be God. As in Judaism and Christianity, Sufi mystics generally came close to identifying the soul with God, but most fell short of any such absolute identification.40 Still, the main point is well taken: the closer one gets to the Divine Light, the more one’s self becomes One with the Divine.
Zakaria Mohamad 
