Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 301
301 our cares and sorrows in one way or another. The mere utter- ^ ance of a few words does not, therefore, constitute a prayer. A true prayer is that which has actually a magnetic power, and after which a light descends from heaven which dissipates the clouds of our anxieties, and grants us a peace and security of L mind. It is true that Divine assistance is vouch-safed to us in one of two ways after a true prayer, viz-, either the difficulty which would crush us under its weight is altogether removed, or / we are granted a supernatural power to bear it and then we find > a joy and a bliss in it, and being freed from all uneasiness our breast is opened for its reception. In both cases Divine assis- tance does certainly come to us after a devout and sincere pra- yer. " "Moreover, when it is admitted that the happiness, felicities and blessings of the next world, which are expressed in the one word "Salvation," are obtained by means of prayers, the efficacy of prayers is also admitted ; for, if our prayer can not help us in getting freed from adversities and in the attainment of our ob- jects in this life, there is no reason they should effect that pur- pose in the life to come. If prayer has no efficacy in this world, / it is absurd to suppose that it will show its efficacy in the next. On the other hand, if we believe in its efficacy in the next, we cannot but admit its efficacy here, so that its manifestation in this very life may strengthen our faith and hope in the. next, arid we may pray with greater zeal for the blessings of the next life. " "There should be a transformation in the prayers which you perform daily. I see that the prayers of most men are only rnea- ^ ningless movements of the body. Their prayers are not atten- ded with even the fearfulness and the humbleness of heart which may be seen in their supplications after the prayers are ended,