Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 207
26 December 1905 207 the veracity and sincerity of the individual who holds a light within his heart, and He openly exposes the one who harbours malice and wickedness in his heart, and nothing can remain hidden. A Promise to be Given a Truthful Jam a ‘at Know with certainty that in the sight of Allah, those who don fine garments, are very rich, and eat well are not the ones who are dear to Him. On the contrary, those who give precedence to the Faith over the world and become wholly and sincerely His alone are the ones who are dear to God. Hence, you should focus on this aspect, not the former. If I look at the current sit- uation of the Jam a ‘at, I am deeply saddened that it remains in a rather frail condition, and there are still many stages it has yet to traverse. However, when I look at the promises of Allah the Exalted that He has made to me, my sorrow turns to hope. From among those promises, one is this, in which He states: ِ ٰمَة ی ِ َوْم ِ الْق ی ی ٰ ْن َ كَفَرُوْۤا اِل ی ْن َ اتَّبَعُوْك َ فَوْق َ الَّذِ ی و َ جَاعِل ُ الَّذِ ِ ٰمَة ی ِ َوْم ِ الْق ی ی ٰ ْن َ كَفَرُوْۤا اِل ی ْن َ اتَّبَعُوْك َ فَوْق َ الَّذِ ی و َ جَاعِل ُ الَّذِ It is indeed true that He will grant predominance to my follow- ers over those who disbelieve until the Day of Judgment. However, it is worth pondering that not everyone can be counted among my followers simply by pledging allegiance to me at my hand. A person cannot be counted as being among my followers unless he creates a complete state of ْ اِتِّبَاع ْ اِتِّبَاع [follow- ing] within himself. The word ‘following’ does not truly apply until one follows fully and completely—such following as to become lost in obedience and walking in lockstep. This shows that God Almighty has destined for me such a Jam a ‘at that will be lost in obedience to me and will follow me