Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 124
124 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The true visions and dreams of an unsophisticated Muslim are far more powerful than the visions of renowned philosophers, bishops and pundits. As Allah the Almighty states: ذلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْثِيْهِ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ That is Allah's grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases. And so it is incumbent upon the Muslims to be grateful to their True Benefactor. For Allah the Exalted states: لَبِنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَبِنْ كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَانِ لَشَدِيدٌ This means, if you are thankful to me, I shall increase for you the favour that I have conferred upon you, but if you are ungrateful, then my punishment is severe. Remember that since this community has been referred to as one that is deserv- ing of divine mercy (marhumah), and it has been honoured with divine knowl- edge, gratitude must be paid in practice. Therefore, in the prayer (Guide us in the right path) it is necessary for all Muslims to always give due re- gard to the words: (Thee alone do we worship). For the words: Thee) إِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ Thee alone do we worship) have been given precedence to) ايَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ alone do we implore for help). Hence, before anything else, a person must demon- strate their gratitude practically; this is the underlying significance of the words In other words, before making a supplication, it is incumbent for one to show due regard for and seek recourse to apparent means, and then turn to supplication. First and foremost, one must reform their own beliefs, mor- اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ als and habits and then offer the prayer Morals Are the Sign of a Person's Virtue Now I wish to mention an extremely important point. The significance of this matter cannot be understated. Our community must not listen to my words with an air of carelessness and inattention. Remember that morals are the sign of a person's piety. The general definition of a Muslim as narrated in the Hadith is that a Muslim is one from whose hand and tongue another Muslim is safe. al-Jumu'ah, 62:5 Ibrahim, 14:8