Lesson 3: A prayer for grace to keep reverence in all states, and the grievous harms of irreverence

Let us seek from God the blessing of reverence; the irreverent one is deprived of the Lord’s Grace.

The irreverent one does not harm himself alone, but sets fire to the whole world.

A table of food was coming down from heaven, without buying or selling and without a word spoken or heard.

Among the people of Moses a few irreverent ones said, “Where are the garlic and lentils?”

The table and the bread from heaven were cut off; the toil of sowing and spade and sickle remained for us.

Again, when Jesus interceded, God sent a table and bounty on a tray.

Again the insolent abandoned reverence and, like beggars, carried off the leftovers.

Jesus implored them, “This is lasting and will not grow less on the earth.”

Suspicion and giving in to greed before the table of Majesty are ingratitude.

Because of those greedy impudent wretches, that gate of ˹divine˺ Mercy was closed upon them.

Because of withholding ˹obligatory˺ almsgiving (zakat) no cloud rises, and from adultery plague ˹or epidemic˺ breaks out in all directions.

Whatever comes upon you of darkness and sorrow, that too is from recklessness and insolence.

Whoever acts recklessly in the path of the Friend becomes a highwayman who robs the men ˹of God˺, and he is no man.

Through reverence this heaven has become full of light, and through reverence the angels became sinless and pure.

The eclipse of the sun was from insolence; ˹even one like˺ Azazil was turned back from the door ˹of God˺ out of audacity.