Malfuzat - Volume IV — Page 152
152 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad necessary to an extent. Even in the context of the hereafter, we make use of appar - ent means. One fulfils the commandments given by God Almighty, refrains from evil, and performs good deeds so that one can find comfort in this world and in the next. So in a way, virtues also take the place of means. Similarly, God Almighty has also not forbidden one from making use of appar - ent means to fulfil one’s worldly needs. An employee should work, a farmer should cultivate his land, a labourer should do various jobs, so that they can fulfil the rights due to their family, other dependants and their own soul. Therefore, to a reasonable extent, all of these things are permissible and such things are not forbidden. However, when a person crosses the bounds and begins to depend wholly on apparent means and all of their expectations revolve around worldly means, this is the form of polytheism which hurls a person away from their true purpose. For example, if a person were to say that if such and such source was not available, I would die of hunger; or if it were not for this property or work, I would be in a terrible state; if it were not for such and such friend, I would be in difficult circumstances; these are the sorts of things that God Almighty finds extremely displeasing. God Almighty does not like when a person puts their trust in property, worldly means, or other people to such an extent that they become completely removed from God Himself. This is a dangerous association of part - ners with God. It is completely at odds with the teaching of the Holy Quran. As such, God Almighty states: 1 ََْن َو ُ ْد َ ِع ُْوْ َّت ْ َوَ َمَا ُم ُُْقُُك َز ِ ُر ِ ء ََمَٓا ْلْس ا ِـي َف َوَ And in heaven is your sustenance, and also that which you are promised. Furthermore, He also states: 2 ٗهٗ ُـ ْب َْسْ ُح َ ْو ُ ِه ََف ِ ُهلل ا َى ٰل َ ِع َْْل َك َ ْو َتَ َـ ُي ْ ُن ََوَ َم And he who puts his trust in Allah—He is sufficient for him. Moreover, Allah the Exalted states: 3 ُ ٍب ِ ْس ََْحَْت ُي َا ْل َُْيُْث ُح ْ ُن ِ َم ُ ٗه ْ ُق ُ َز ْ َر َ ُي َوَ ًا ْج ََٗهٗ َمَْخَْر ْل َْْل ُع ْ َج َ ُي َ ُهلل ِ ا ٌق َ َت َـ ُي ْ ُن َمَ And he who fears Allah—He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he expects not. 1 adh-Dhariyat , 51:23 2 at-Talaq , 65:4 3 at-Talaq , 65:3-4 َِْيَْن ْح ِ ُل ٰ ْلَص َ ٰل َ ْو ََتَ ُي َ ْو ُ ْه َوَ