I need You | Alireza Panahian

I need You.

There is a difference between me understanding deeply that I need religion, with me accepting logically that there is a God. He has commanded and naturally I have to obey; otherwise, He will punish me. We should gain devoutness due to our need for religion. Spiritual need should awaken within a person, and devoutness should be based on this spiritual need.

“A person who has done good is not without need of Your help.” (Abu Hamza Thumali Supplication) Pull me towards Yourself. I need You. Our spiritual need is dormant within us. We must awaken it.

A person loved the Holy Prophet (s). Do you know what this means? His need for the Prophet (s), the Imam, and God’s Guardian had awakened. He would come and see the Prophet (s) every day. The Prophet asked him, “Do you want something from me?” The man replied, “No, I just need to see you.”

This part of the tradition is very beautiful. Sometimes when the Prophet (s) and his companions were sitting together, this man would come and open the door. The Prophet (s) knew what he wanted; he wanted to see him. The Prophet (s) would stretch up his head to be seen, and then he would sit comfortably. His need for the Prophet (s), the Imam, and God’s Guardian had awakened within him. The spiritual need is dormant within us. We must awaken it.

There is a nice story about a man named “Majnun” who was in love. Envisioning this is very beautiful. People saw him sitting on the beach and constantly writing “Layli” (the beloved’s name). The water would come on the sand and wash it away. Again, he wrote Layli. Again the water washed it away. Again, he wrote Layli. People asked him, “Why are you doing this?” He replied, “Even if it is impossible for me to reach to her, I am still in love with her name.”

If this need awakens… How should we awaken our need for God, for the Imam, and for hearing the words of God in ourselves? There is a key way. I don’t know which of these two ways I should say is more important. Perhaps the first way is much more fundamental. Pay less attention to your other needs. Don’t satisfy all your needs completely. Don’t constantly think about your needs. Ignore your other needs. The need for spirituality will awaken. It is as if it was looking for an opportunity to show itself.

What is fasting? Ignoring other needs. You have needs. Yes, everyone knows this. Aren’t you thirsty? You should drink water. But, sometimes you ignore it. What happens?! Have you seen how beautiful everything becomes at Iftar time, and at the end of the Month of Ramadan? Everything becomes beautiful. You cry at the end of the Month of Ramadan, “Why are you leaving?” What was going on during this month? You ignored your other needs a little.

Ignore your emotional needs a little. Ignore your need for food a little. Ignore your need for sleep a little. I know you should sleep! It’s obvious. Just a little less. “Their sides give-up rest in beds in order to pray.” (Qur’an 32:16) Let another need awaken within you.

The way to awaken our spiritual need is to ignore other needs. A little, and not completely. As much as you can. Whenever the situation was right. The divine tests tell us which needs we should ignore.

What is another thing we should do for this need to awaken? For a time, while you know you have such a need but you don’t feel it, remember God. Go to the ceremonies for reading eulogies. Recite the Qur’an. Wake up to worship at nights. Say, “God, it’s still not real, but ‘Glory be to God. Glory be to God.’ I still don’t feel anything!” Say again, “Subhana Rabbi al-A’la wa bi Hamdih, (Pure and Immaculate is my God - the Highest - and I praise Him.)”

Nothing happened again tonight. Continue doing it tomorrow night. You know there is such a thing! What will happen? Gradually this need of yours will awaken. Pay less attention to your other needs. Don’t satisfy all your needs completely. Don’t constantly think about your needs. Ignore your other needs. Gradually this need of yours will awaken.

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