Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume II — Page 104
104 Allah says, ‘ When you go to people and say , ‘ In God’s name treat us a certain way, ’ then you are [by this action] attesting to Our [God’s] power and might. B ut We say to you that w hilst you appeal to people [to act a certain way] using Our name, then why do you not go to that same God and establish your own relationship with Him ; the One who removes all difficulties? ’ Because in any case, there are those people , wh o remain unaffected when the name of God Almighty is invoked. For example, there are the atheists, who will laugh if you invoke the name of God before th em. Similarly, there exist those heartless robbers who when they are in the process of robbing , or when the army of your enemy is attack ing , if at that time [you were to] invoke God’s name and if you were to plead before them , would they ever stop ? Has it ever occurred during a burglary the people pleaded , ‘In God’s name leave us alone,’ and they were left alone? Or for example, the war took place between the Germans and the British. In that war, did they open fire on each other and upon hearing the name of God , did they let their enemy be ? Even if the name of Go d was taken a thousand times in front of them, they would not stop. Thus, people most certainly invoke the name of God but the way they use His name is wrong. The right way is for people to bow down before God Almighty and instead of asking other people to leave them alone in the name of God, they should ask God Almighty Himself , ‘O God drawing upon Y our noble attributes and Y our attribute s of Rahmaniyyat [ Graciousness ] and Rah ee miyyat [ Mercy ] , bestow mercy up on me and remove my difficulties for me. ’ Thus, to beseech other people in the name of God Almighty is an incorrect use of the name of God Almighty. The one who is heartless does not care for the name of God Almighty at all. Thu s, the right way is for people to go before God Almighty and present their difficulties to Him. Take note that both men and women ’s rights have been equally acknowledged in this matter. It has not been said that the prayer of men will be heard while that of women will be not. On the contrary, He says, ‘O men and O women, make my name a shield for yourselves and call up on Me during your times of need. ’