Know that the path begins when Allah throws into the heart of the slave a powerful urge, which troubles and unnerves him, and drives him towards Allah and the last abode. It turns him away from life on earth and from being, like others, busily engaged in gathering and building, tasting and enjoying the pleasures of the world, and deceived by its ornaments.
This urge is one of the hidden acts of Allah. It is a breath of guidance and the sign of the beginning of Allah's trust on his slave. Often the slave is bestowed these signs as he listens to those people who stir in him the fear of Allah, the desire and yearning for Him. At other times when he looks at the people of Allah, the Exalted and through them sees the signs, sometimes for no reason or without any means at all.
One should actively pursue such a state. However, to hope and dream only without exposing oneself to such environment or not standing at the door but just waiting is unwise and foolish.
Just as the Messenger, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him said:
إِنَّ لِوَبِكُمْ فِي أَيَّامٍ دَهْرِكُمْ نَفَحَاتٍ أَلاَ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهَا
"Indeed, your Lord sends down gifts on days of your time, so do expose yourself to them."
He, upon whom Allah, in His generosity, bestows such a noble urge, must know how precious it is. He should know that it is one of the greatest graces Allah, the Exalted, showers on him. It is such that he will never know its real value, nor will he ever be able to thank Allah enough for it. So let him thank Allah, the Exalted, to his utmost for having specially, singled him out and selected him from amongst his status and peers to receive it. How many a Muslim reaches the age of eighty years and more yet neither was he bestowed with such yearning nor his heart once was touched by this secret.
A seeker should diligently strengthen, protect, and respond to this urge. It grows stronger when he remembers and invokes Allah [zikr], when he reflects [fikr] on all which Allah has manifested, and when he keeps the company of the people of Allah, He protects it by keeping away from the company of those veiled from Allah, and by ignoring the whisperings of the devil [shaytan]. He responds to it when he hastens to return to Allah and sincerely seeks His Nearness; neither he waits, postpones, nor delays. Whenever the time arrived, he will accomplish the act and when the door is open for him to do good deeds and he should enter, when called to perform, he should hurry. Let him beware of letting one day pass after the other, for this is the work of the devil. He must approach it and not weakened as he progresses, he must not make excuses such as saying that there is no time or that he is not good enough for the task.
Abur Rabi', Allah has mercy on him, said, "Go to Allah with your limps and broken limbs, do not wait for full health for that would only be idleness."
lbn Ata'a said in his Hikam', "To say that the work has to be postponed until the time is found is nothing but the frivolousness of the self [nafs]."
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
"Truly in the remembrance of God do hearts find rest."