The Knock is More Important Than the Opening

We often value results over intent, yet spiritual merit lies in the seeking. As Rabia Basri reminds us: God’s door is never closed.

Humanity has an inherent tendency to always judge an action by its outcome rather than its intrinsic merit. We often treat results as the primary justification for our efforts, particularly in our spiritual lives. However, our relationship with the Creator cannot be conditional or transactional. Divine value lies not in the achievement, but in the intention. As His seekers have revealed, our Lord is often more interested in the “why” than the “what.”

Hence, the opportunity to knock at the Divine Door is more significant than the door actually swinging open. The weight of the act lies in the approach, i.e the humble turning toward the Infinite, regardless of the perceived result.

Yet, even as we focus on the merit of the knock, we are halted by the piercing insight of Rabia Basri, the dauntless devotee of medieval Sufism. Witnessing a man constantly praying for the door to open, she famously challenged him:

“How long will you continue to cry out for the door to open? When was it ever closed?”

Feb 03, 2026 | Shaban 15, 1447