Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 225
225 14 May 1900 The Purpose for Remaining in the Company of the Righteous The Promised Messiah as states: “The fact is that I look at the practice of seeking help from the dead with extreme disgust. It is a characteristic of those who are weak in faith to turn to the dead and flee from those who are alive. God Almighty states that during the life of Joseph, peace be upon him, the people rejected his prophethood, but the day that he passed away, they began to say that on this day prophethood has come to an end. Allah the Exalted has not instructed anywhere that we should turn to the dead; in fact, He gives the following commandment: 1 َ مَعَ الصّٰدِقِيْن كُوْنُوْا Be with the truthful. In doing so, God Almighty has instructed us to remain in the company of those who are living. This is precisely the reason that I encourage my friends emphati- cally to come here again and again. When I invite my friends to come and stay here with me, Allah the Exalted knows full well that I do so merely on account of my sympathy for their condition, as an expression of mercy upon them and out of my goodwill for them. I truthfully say that faith cannot be rectified until a person remains in the com- pany of one who possesses faith. This is because dispositions are diverse. A person who gives counsel cannot deliver a speech that addresses the state of every unique disposition at the same time. A time will arise when the discussions are in line with a person’s understanding, way of thinking, and nature, and this brings ben- eficial results. However, if a man does not come here repeatedly and does not stay for a good number of days, it is possible that the discussion at that time (when the person is present here) may not accord with his nature. This in turn may dis- hearten the individual in question and push them away from thinking positively, ultimately leading them to ruin. Therefore, as per the the Holy Quran, it is the living in whose company we have been instructed to remain. Only God Almighty Ought to Be Implored for Help Moreover, as far as seeking assistance is concerned, it ought to be remembered 1 at-Tawbah, 9:119