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Discourses of Rumi

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discourse 46Sheikh Ibrahim is a noble dervish. When we seehim, we are reminded <strong>of</strong> our beloved friends. OurMaster Shams used to refer to him as “our SheikhIbrahim,” showing his affection.Divine favor is one thing, but personal effort isanother. The prophets did not attain prophethoodthrough personal effort—they gained that fortunethrough Divine grace. Yet God still required theprophets to live a life <strong>of</strong> personal effort andvirtue. This was for the sake <strong>of</strong> the common people,so they could put reliance on the prophetsand their words. The gaze <strong>of</strong> ordinary people cannotpenetrate into the inward heart—they seeonly the outward show. Yet, following thoseexternals, through the Divine blessings bestowedon those forms, people find the way to the internal.After all, even Pharaoh made personal efforts<strong>of</strong> charity and noble acts, but since God’s favorwas not present, his generosity and beneficence

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