Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 66
Malfuzat - English translation of Urdu Volume 7 66 oneself against the evils and passions of this age, but there is a great need for supplications. Apparent piety alone (which man attempts through his own effort and striving) cannot be of any benefit unless the grace and mercy of God Almighty accom- pany it. The truth is that real devotion and taqw a [righteous- ness] come only from God Almighty. This is how true purity and true taqw a are attained. Otherwise, is it not true that many clothes are entirely white, and even though they are white, they can still be unclean? The example of outward piety and purity is precisely like this. 1 Nevertheless, to acquire this true purity, taqw a , and cleanli- ness, a person must strive during his youth while there is power and strength in the faculties and a desire and enthusiasm in the heart. Striving thus in this period of life is the work of a wise man, and it is for this reason that man has been endowed wisdom. 2 The First Means is Planning In order to achieve this goal (as I have stated many times before), it is first necessary that man should not deliberately put himself into the pit of sin; otherwise, he will surely perish. A person who deliberately adopts the path of error or intentionally falls 1. This is from al-Badr: ‘Everything has an outer appearance; similarly, devotion and piety also have an outward appearance, and most people appear right- eous and devoted, but until the grace and mercy of God accompany a human being, such things cannot be of any help to him’ ( Al-Badr, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 10, dated 1 January 1905). 2. This is from al-Badr: ‘It is the work and duty of a wise man to ponder upon the evils of this age, and he has been given intellect to save himself from this great storm which is destroying the spirituality of the people’ ( Al-Badr, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 10, dated 1 January 1905).