Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 78
Malfuzat - English translation of Urdu Volume 7 78 wicked miscreants and nothing more. 1 But that Jam a ‘at (which Allah the Exalted mentioned in the Holy Quran that they did such righteous deeds that God Almighty became pleased with them and they were pleased with God Almighty) was not formed only by abandoning evil. They considered their lives as nothing to gain God’s pleasure. They gave up their comforts and conveniences to benefit God’s creation. It was only after this that they reached those lofty ranks and stations, and it was proclaimed: 2 َيِضَر ُهّٰللا ْمُهْنَع َو اْوُضَر ُهْنَع َيِضَر ُهّٰللا ْمُهْنَع َو اْوُضَر ُهْنَع Nevertheless, I see the current state of Muslims evolving at this time so that prosperous trade is an endeavour of great impor- tance and that alone is the principal pursuit [of theirs]; how- ever, they are seen to be lethargic even in abandoning evil, and there is no point even mentioning those deeds that are the duty of the righteous. Therefore, you should not think that only one thing will suffice for you. Yes, first avoid evil deeds and then, in their place, make efforts and strive to carry out good deeds. And 1. This is in al-Badr: ‘Whoever thinks from these things that he has become something is seriously mistaken, because he who does not commit theft and adultery, also remains safe from their evil result and punishment. No one is beholden to him as a result. If he had done such things, he would have suf- fered and would have been counted amongst the wicked and been called an adulterer, because committing adultery is the work of adulterers. If he did not do these things, it means simply that his name was removed from the register of evildoers, but it has also not been entered into the class and register of vir- tuous people. That is why God Almighty has emphasized the doing of good deeds, that if he avoids evil, he should do righteous deeds and join the ranks of the righteous’ ( Al-Badr, vol. 4, no. 2, p. 3, dated 10 January 1905). 2. Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him ( S u rah al-Bayyinah, 98:9). [Publisher]