Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 308
Malfuzat - English translation of Urdu Volume 7 308 but in the presence of an eternal realm [the Hereafter] and lasting relief, why is this question even raised? If the question is that He should cause them to enter this eternal abode of comfort without suffering, they would ask why should there be the accountability for sins? He could have also allowed entry with them. 1 The answer is that Allah the Exalted is Self-Sufficient in His Being and stands in need of no one. Man must do some- thing to attain salvation and eternal comfort. Unless he suffers hardships, he cannot find comfort and ease. These hardships are of two types. The first is due to a per- son battling against himself, so he carries out spiritual exercises and passes through many hardships. And the second case is that the decree and determination of God sends down some hardships on him to cleanse him through this means. In this way, the souls of the child and the Prophets, peace be on them, are holy. They are sinless and innocent, yet sufferings and hard- ships come upon them to perfect them and to manifest their morals, veracity, and sincerity. Striving and endeavouring are necessary for a human being, and together with this, suffering and difficulties are also essential. 1. From Badr: Asking why God has instituted a system of suffering, when He could have allowed one to enter Paradise without it, is an absurd question. We see that the Sunnah of God has been in operation in this way. Allah the Exalted is Self-Sufficient in Himself while man is weak. He has set up this system for humans to either advance through striving and spiritual exercises or make them achieve perfection through heavenly decree and determination. ( Badr, vol. 1, no. 20, p. 3, dated 17 August 1905)