We acquire the attributes of those we associate with. Not only those besides us but anyone we admire or idolise. Whoever occupies our thoughts becomes an internal companion shaping our character.
Now the Sufis teach that to remember God is to accompany Him. The more we accompany Him, the more we begin to acquire His Attributes—namely the virtues. In other words, we awaken to our own divine nature, which is the whole purpose of creation. Whoever we accompany, we resemble.
"God Most High possesses one hundred and seventeen attributes. Whoever acquires one of them enters Paradise"
- Muhammad ﷺ
(Source: al-Hakim. Validated Hadith. Narrated by Uthman ibn Affan رضي الله عنه)
- Sufi Saying
"Those mindful of the here-below acquire lowly and base qualities.
Those mindful of the Most High acquire lofty and divine qualities."
- Unknown
"You are your thoughts" - Rumi
"The mind is everything. What you think, you become" - Gautama Buddha
Notes
* Only the human being - among all creation - is capable of knowing and reflecting all of the Divine Attributes and Names.
"And He [God] taught Adam all the Names.."
- Quran 2.31
* We should clarify that certain Divine Attributes apply only to the Lord and not the servant.
* Most commentators agree on ninety nine Divine Attributes even if there are hadith which suggest otherwise.
* Obviously, man can only manifest the Divine Names/Attributes in a very limited way but the fact that he is able to reflect each one makes him/her unique. Everything else in creation - from inanimate objects to angels - can only manifest certain Divine Names/Attributes. A mountain can reflect something of the Divine majesty. A plant has traces of life and will. A tree reflects something of the Divine generosity with its fruit and shade. An animal is seeing, hearing, loving etc. All of these are Divine Attributes and Names mentioned in the Quran and manifested throughout creation. They are symbols of Archetypes.
References
1. Sahih al-Bukhari 7405 and Sahih Muslim 2675
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