Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 164
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 164 business to this degree, the person’s heart was not neglectful of God Almighty even for an instant. It is indeed regarding such people that Almighty Allah has stated: 1 اَل ْمِهْيِهْلُت ٌةَراَجِت َّو اَل ٌعْيَب اَل ْمِهْيِهْلُت ٌةَراَجِت َّو اَل ٌعْيَب that no trade or business makes them oblivious [of God]. And the excellence of man indeed lies in this that he remains engaged in worldly business and still does not forget God. What use is the mule that sits when loaded with burden and walks well when unburdened? It is not worthy of praise. An ascetic who adopts seclusion being flustered by worldly affairs shows a weakness. There is no monasticism is Islam. I never direct to leave wives and children, and abandon worldly businesses. No, rather every employee must fulfil his responsibilities of employ- ment, and every trader must fulfil the requirements of his trade but give priority to faith. 2 Its example is found in the world itself that traders and employees despite fulfilling their work responsibilities also have wives and children and discharge their rights equally. Similarly, a person can discharge the duties to God Almighty along with all these activities and can live his life in an excel- lent manner while giving precedence to faith over the world. Man has a natural affinity with God, for in response to God Almighty’s 3 ُتْسَلَا ْمُكِّبَرِب ُتْسَلَا ْمُكِّبَرِب , man’s nature has already declared before Him, 4 اْوُلاَق ىٰلَب اْوُلاَق ىٰلَب. 1. S u rah an-N u r, 24:38 [Publisher] 2. It is in al- H akam : ‘Conduct trade, engage in employment, attend to world- ly affairs but do not forget God Almighty. People who become occupied with their wives, children and the world, and neglect God are unmanly. ’ ( Al- H akam , vol. 11 , no. 9, p. 10 , dated 17 March 1907) 3. Am I not your Lord? ( S u rah al-‘Ar a f, 7:173) [Publisher] 4. They say, ‘Yea, we do bear witness’ ( S u rah al-‘Ar a f, 7:173). [Publisher]