Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 236
236 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad only two states of man: either that he does not sin or that Allah Almighty saves him from the bad outcome of that sin. Hence, when a person invokes the forgive- ness of God, they ought to keep both these concepts in mind. Firstly, one ought to beg God Almighty so that He covers and hides one’s past sins and secondly, one ought to seek from God the ability so that one may be saved from committing sin in the future. However, seeking forgiveness through a mere verbal recitation will not suffice; rather, one should seek forgiveness from their heart. One ought to supplicate in the Prayer in their own tongue as well; this too is necessary. ” The Root of All Good is Righteousness The Promised Messiah as said: “Adopt righteousness. Righteousness is the root of everything. The meaning of righteousness is to save oneself from each and every sinful tendency, no matter how small it may be. Righteousness is when a person avoids a thing where even the possibility of wrongdoing may exist. ” The Promised Messiah as said: “The heart is like the main canal that branches off into smaller channels, which are also referred to as major or minor canals. Smaller distributaries branch off from the canal of the heart, such as the tongue among other things. If the water flowing from the minor canal or minor distributary is contaminated, filthy and impure, one can deduce that the water from the major canal is also polluted. Therefore, if you observe that someone’s tongue, or their hands and feet, or any other limb is steeped in impurity, you can understand that their heart is the same. ” The Wisdom in Not Offering the Prayers Behind Others There was a discussion on not offering the Prayers behind someone who is not a part of the community. The Promised Messiah as said: “Show steadfastness and do not offer the Prayer behind anyone who is not a follower of this community. There is benefit and virtue in this course of action; herein lies your triumph and a manifest victory. It is this which shall prove a stepping stone for the progress of the community. Even in a worldly context, those who are discontent with some- one or displeased with their enemy do not speak to them for at least a few days, but your displeasure and discontent are for the sake of God. If you continue to mix with them just as before, you will deprive yourself of the special attention with which God Almighty has blessed you. When a pure community is separated p. 216