Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 275
3 August 1905 275 that friend offers him a lavish meal? The homeowner enjoys his friend eating the meal whereas just a piece of some dry bread is given to the beggar, and if he stops there for excessive time, he is shoved and pushed out of the house. However, this is not the treatment meted out to the friend; instead, he derives pleasure from his extended stay, eating the food and drink placed before him. This is indeed the case with God’s Prophets and His Appointed Ones. All that comes before them is not the result of their selfish desires. They find all pleasure and comfort in remaining occupied in the remembrance of Allah the Exalted. They actually like solitude, where they express their heart’s desires and wishes to their Beloved and want no one to see them in this state. Moreover, these relationships are for their perfection. I have repeatedly stated that all aspects of morals cannot be fulfilled until all kinds of situations are faced. Prophets and Messengers face hardships and difficulties, and these difficulties come for the perfection of their morals. No one else has had the opportunity to manifest all the mor- als like the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did. During his entire stay in Makkah, he faced all kinds of hardships and difficulties, which brought out his per- fect patience and his enduring contentment with the will of God. Subsequently, when he entered victoriously in the capacity of a king, although he could have executed them all and had the right to do so, despite having this power, he forgave them all. This provides proof of his perfect selflessness, generosity, forbearance, and forgiveness. The Messiah [ Jesus] was never afforded such an opportunity, so he could not manifest these two aspects. 1 1. Al- H akam, vol. 9, no. 28, p. 2, 3, dated 10 August 1905