(Bab) Door or gate. Sitting patiently, with total respect and utter humility, at Allah's door, is the work within tariqa. While knocking on Allah's door the murid waits mindfully, never distracted, in readiness for whatever Allah Wills for him. The lover prostrates at the door of the Sacred House yearning for a word, a glance or a message from the Beloved. One lover of Allah has said, "When was the door ever shut?" Another has said, "For years I knocked on the door, then realized that all the time I'd been knocking from the inside!" When speaking of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May the Salutations of Allah be upon him and Peace) as the City of Knowledge, Sayyiduna 'Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) is the Gate (bab). When speaking of "There is no god other than Allah" as the Impenetrable Fortress, then "Muhammad is the the Messenger of Allah" is its Door (bab).
