Responding to God's Call, by Asmâ' bint Rashid ar-Ruwayshid

We are all bound to respond, absolutely, to God the Most High, with our hearts as well as through our purposes, words, deeds, worship and conduct, both in secret and in public. It is up to us to make this response a reality. The Most High says, "Say: 'Verily my prayer, my acts of devotion, my life and my death belong to God, Lord of the Universe. '" [ The Cattle: 162] . It is this absolute response that God requires of us. We do not mean by this invitation the total answer.

Every Muslim responds to the invitation, but this response fluctuates between perfection and failure, and between observance and neglect. In this area, people occupy various stations, which only God knows. So there are some who respond openly and secretly in their worship of their Lord and in their dealings with people. These have truly responded to God and materialized the absolute response. Others respond outwardly, but not inwardly. They are the hypocrites. A third group is represented by the Muslim who neglects his duties and succumbs to taboos.

This book is an invitation to sincere hearts and to believing and ambitious souls... An invitation to reach the high stations of those who respond, again and again, to the call of God and His Messenger... An invitation to life with its true flavor, a life of satisfaction, familiarity with God ( al-uns ) , serenity and happiness. It is an invitation to respond favorably to the command of our Lord, the Loving, the Merciful: " Contribute to the forgiveness of your Lord, and to a Garden ( Paradise ) as wide as the Heavens and the Earth. It is for the pious. " [ The family of 'Imran : 133] .