Real Tawhid

“As for those who are purified of appetite for reputation, disgusted with every claim, and naked of self-seeing, they have turned their eyes to the beauty of the Presence and sit in anticipation of the breaking union’s dawn.” ~Sam’ani
Sam’ani (Sufi Mystic, d. 1140) tells a story about two sufis riding in a litter on their way to the Kaabah. One of them begins crying, and his friend being surprised at his weeping asks him if he is crying because he was weeping for his sins. His friend replied that he was crying because he feared if the tawhid that he brought was the real tawhid. After relating this story, Sam’ani writes:
“These were people who had, but they showed themselves as not having. You do not have, but you show yourselves as having. They were the rich who fancied themselves indigent, front-runners who had the remorse of laggards. Now the situation has been reversed, and men have become obstinate in irreligion. They are indigent, but they fancy themselves rich. They are laggards but claim to be front-runners.”
Do you tremble before your Great High King? Do you understand His magnificent Mercy? O mortal, understand, there is no god, but God! Live as if your very life depends on it, because it surely does!
The title, Sufi, comes from the wool patches the mystics wore on their clothing. Most of them lived in poverty, and made their entire life’s purpose the constant seeking of the Beloved (Allah). They ever sought to know more and more about the Beloved, seeking Him in all their ways. Because of always being mindful of God, they lost all worldly attachments, including their egos, and were subsequently raised in spiritual purity and beauty. What many non-Muslims don’t know is that the miracles Jesus revealed were also accomplished by many of the Sufis as well. They could change one liquid to another liquid (transmutation), perform healings, walk on water, and could travel supernaturally by going long distances in a short period of time. Also, they were blessed by Allah with the vision to see what was going on in other places and with other people. This is pure tawhid, or living as if the only thing that really matters in one’s life is Allah. This is the place where the physical meets the spiritual and all things become possible.
Also, from Sam’ani:
“Even if the pearl of your inwardness was mixed at the beginning with bestial and predatory attributes, once it is sifted by the sieve of good fortune and struggle, and once the blood of this refractory soul is spilled from its nature, it will be worthy of the Sultan’s [Allah] presence. It is a heavenly pearl on the face of the earth.”