When Hazrat Inayat Khan visited Scotland in 1919, at the conclusion of his address in Edinburgh he was asked to say something about how to live in the world. He was at first reluctant to reply, saying the principle that suited one person might not suit another but the students insisted, declaring that as they followed him they wished to have his example. Perhaps the students expected to hear about spiritual practices or a moral code, or maybe a schedule for prayers or a dietary regimen, but when the Master finally agreed to address the subject, he spoke simply of his attitude towards others. He said, “In all things I see from the point of view of another, as well as from my own. I therefore give freedom of thought to everybody, since I take it myself. I appreciate what is good in another, and overlook what I consider is bad. If anyone behaves selfishly to me, I take it naturally, as it is human nature to be selfish, and I am not disappointed by it.  But when I appear myself to be selfish, I take myself to task and try to improve.…I wish to make friends with everybody I meet; if I find them difficult, I make an effort to gain their friendship.” 

His words are simple and mild but they describe a wide-hearted way of seeing others that is almost beyond our imagination. To be so non-judgemental and tolerant requires us to feel sustained by love and to cast aside the opinions and conceptions that confine us to a small and unsatisfying portion of the Infinite. It is a condition we could spend a whole lifetime striving to awaken – but his example urges us to at least try to emulate him.

We might also benefit from these words when we say the prayer Salat. This beautiful invocation of the Spirit of Guidance begins ‘Most gracious lord, master, messiah and saviour of humanity, we greet Thee in all humility.‘ The greeting is not to any prophet in particular but addresses the spirit of all the great souls. Nevertheless it does not take much imagination to see that they would all have a welcoming attitude similar to that of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat. This opening of the prayer, therefore, gives us the opportunity, first, to feel a genuine sense of humility, certainly an essential quality if one wishes to pray sincerely, and it also opens a space in which we ourselves may feel greeted. Prayer is not one-way communication; if we listen with our hearts we discover that prayer awakens a state of communion, an intimate two way conversation – and then we could perhaps experience the welcoming glance of the masters as we bow in respect. Like Hazrat Inayat Khan, they wish nothing more than to be our Friend.