It is not words, but intention and action, that give strength.
A king said to a dervish, “Teach me the supplication that you recite.” The dervish refused. The king then learned that supplication from someone else, but when he recited it, there was no effect. The king called the dervish and said, “I have learned the supplication, but it had no effect. Tell me, where is the mistake?” The dervish smiled. He said to a soldier, “Arrest the king.” The soldier remained silent and did not move. Then the king, in anger, commanded, “Arrest this dervish!” Immediately, the soldiers stepped forward and surrounded the dervish. The dervish then said, “Look! The words were the same, the command was the same, but the difference was in our status. Your command was obeyed by everyone, my command was obeyed by no one. In the same way, your supplication has no effect because you have no status in the spiritual world.” The truth is that power is not in words, but in a person’s character, intention, and closeness to Allah. The Qur’an is healing, a...