Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 273
APPE N DI X to B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 273 person experiences humility and fervour during Prayer or remem- brance of God, it does not necessarily mean that he has a relationship with God. A person may experience all these states and yet have no connec- tion with God. We commonly see people who cry with elation and raise slogans during sermons and religious discourses, during Prayers and remembrance of God, and express deep emotion with tears run- ning down their cheeks. Indeed, some are prone to weep at the slightest occasion, and yet such people do not detach themselves from frivolous activities, and much that is absurd and frivolous recreation is their con- stant companion, which goes to show that they have no relationship whatsoever with God and their hearts are devoid of His fear and maj- esty. This is indeed a strange display—such impure souls together with such states of humility and fervour. This is indeed a matter to learn from, for it shows that mere show of passion and crying that is not attended by the shunning of frivolity is nothing to be proud of, nor is it at all a sign of one’s nearness to God or a link with Him. I have with my own eyes seen many faq i rs [Muslim religious ascet- ics] and other such people who, upon hearing a tragic verse or wit- nessing a tragic event or hearing a tragic story, at once start shedding tears, just like some clouds that start pouring large drops of rain so suddenly as to not afford those sleeping in the open an opportunity to run indoors without their bedding being drenched in water. But I can testify, based on my personal observation, that I have found many such people to be very cunning, even more so than worldly people. Indeed, I have found some of them to be so evil-natured and dishonest and villainous in every aspect that having seen their tears and demon- strations of humility I am loath to express such sentiments in public. There was, of course, a time when this was specifically the hallmark of righteous people, but nowadays it has become a trait of devious and dishonest people. They put on green mantles, grow long hair, always have a rosary in their hand, tears are ever welling up in their eyes, their lips ever moving as if in remembrance of Allah, and then they