Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 208
! ! 208 Misconception s Regarding Destiny T he habit of attributing a child’s illness to fate is more often found in women. F or every misfortune , they blame destiny. I say, if every action happens according to destiny and a human has no say, then why does a woman cook bread? If it is destined to be, the bread will cook itself. Why does she cover herself with a quilt at night? If it is meant to happen , then all things wi ll be accomplished on their own. Yet, no one behaves in this manner. Once , when I was traveling from Lahore to Qadian, Pir Jam a‘at Ali Shah boarded the train at Lahore. The Promised Messiah as had once visited Sialkot, where Pir Jama'at Ali had declared a fatwa [edict], stating that whoever attended the Promised Messiah ’s as lectures or met him , would become a dis believer. H is wife would automatically be divorced from him, since it is a rule that if a man becomes a disbeliever , his wife is divorced from him. Once, an Ahmadi attended Pir Jama'at Ali’s sermon and said to him, “You have seen my face. I am an Ahmadi; therefore, you are now a disbeliever, and your wife is now divorced from you. ” At this , the people in the room began to strike the Ahmadi. Anyhow, Pir Jama'at Ali asked me where I was going and I answered, “ Batala. ” He asked again, “ Specifically Batala, or somewhere else? ” I replie d that I was going to a village near Batala. He asked the name of the village and I answered , “Qadian. ” He asked, “ Why are you going there? ” I replied , “ I live there. ” He then asked me, “ A re you related to Mirza Sahib? ” I answered , “ I am his son. ” In those days , Pir Sahib was involved with an Ahmadi over some dispute, and he wanted me to tell t he Ahmadi to drop the case. However, he did not suggest this straight away , and instead sent for some dried fruit , which he offered me. I said, “I am suffering from a cold. ” He stated, “ Only that occurs which Allah has destined. ” I replied, “ If this is so , then you have made a grievous mistake by undergoing the suffering caused by this journey because if it was in your destiny , you would have reached your destination all on your own. ” Upon hearing this, h e became silent. Hence, destiny has been completely misunderstood. Allah says, “We do not ma ke anyone a believer or infidel. A person becomes a grateful servant or disbeliever of his own accord. Since We have given