Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 154
154 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in this world. It is my belief that if an individual desires to be safeguarded from every kind of disgrace and hardship in this world, there is only one way and that is to become righteous. After this, such a one lacks nothing. Hence, the success of a believer moves them further ahead and they never remain stagnant. Blessed Is the One Who Adheres to Righteousness at Times of Prosperity and Joy en- There are books which contain accounts of numerous people describing how they were initially entangled in worldly matters, rather, they were immensely grossed in materialism. However, it so happened that they prayed for something and their supplication was heard. After that, their state was transformed com- pletely. Therefore, do not pride yourself over the acceptance of your prayers or on account of your achievements, but rather, value the grace and favour of God. It is a known fact that success breathes a new life into a person's resolve and determi- nation. One should derive benefit from this life and through it, increase in their understanding of Allah Almighty. For the greatest of all things, which becomes a source of benefit, is this very cognizance of the Divine; and this develops when an individual reflects over the grace and mercy of God Almighty. No one can thwart the grace of Allah Almighty. Extreme poverty too can plunge a person into mis- fortune. This is why it is related in a Hadith: (Poverty glooms the face). I have seen poverty drag many people to atheism. A believer, however, does not think ill of God no matter how stringent their circumstances, and deeming it to be the result of their own faults, they beseech God for His mercy and grace. Even- tually, when this era passes, and the prayers of a believer come to fruition, they do not forget their time of weakness, but rather, remember it always. Therefore, if you believe in the fact that one is always in need of God, then adopt the way of righteousness. Blessed is the one who adopts righteousness in times of prosperity and joy; and unfortunate is the one who stumbles, yet does not turn to God. ¹ 1 Al-Hakam, vol. 5, no. 23, dated 24 June 1901, pp. 1-2