Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 397
16 September 1907 397 sorrow to arise on such occasions, but great rewards are given to those who exhibit patience. The purpose of all the scriptures of God Almighty is that man must learn to be pleased with the decree of God. The indi- vidual who takes on hardship of his own accord and engages in [spiritual] exercises and strivings for the sake of God, is also able to take care of the essential needs of his body and carries out such acts according to his own desire and, wherever possible, keeps in view his comfort. However, when a trial befalls from God and some affliction arises, it does not make any allowance for the essential needs of his body. God does not have his com- fort or his physical condition in mind. When man engages in a striving, he has control over it, but when a trial comes from God, man has no say in it. With God’s trial, man progresses quickly and attains ranks that he could never have attained with his own effort and toil. That is why Allah the Exalted has not given any glad tidings in: 1 ُْۤيِنْوُعْدا ْبِجَتْسَا ْمُكَل ُْۤيِنْوُعْدا ْبِجَتْسَا ْمُكَل but has given many glad tidings in: 2 یۃ آ اَل ا یۃ آ اَل ا َوْمُكَّنَوُلْبَنَل ٍءْيَشِب. . . َوْمُكَّنَوُلْبَنَل ٍءْيَشِب. . . and has said that these are the people on whom great blessings and mercies of Allah the Exalted will descend and these are the ones who are guided. In short, this is the only way that man can please God. If 1. Pray unto Me; I will answer your prayer ( S u rah al-Mu’min, 40:61). [Publisher] 2. And we will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient ( S u rah al-Baqarah, 2:156) [Publisher]