Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 282
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 8 282 property and the money which had fallen on the ground is ulti- mately someone else’s. Thinking about these things, if he refrains from grabbing it and being greedy, then, in fact, he acts with complete purity and righteousness. Otherwise, if these virtues are only a claim, the truth will be revealed, and he will take it. Similarly, a person whom the people believe not to be osten- tatious—when there is an occasion to be ostentatious, and he does not do it, it will prove that he does not do it. But as I just mentioned, sometimes these habits are exercised on such an occa- sion that they change and become virtues. Thus, the custom of offering Prayer in congregation, of course, has ostentation. So, if a person intends to show off, then it is undoubtedly ostentation, and if this is to obey Allah and His Messenger, then it is a won- derful blessing. So offer Prayers in mosques as well as at home. Likewise, if in some place, donations for the work of reli- gion are being sought and a person sees that people are silent and not rallying to the cause, so he donates first only with the idea of inspiring others. Apparently, this will be ostentation, but it will lead to reward from God. Similarly, God Almighty has said in the Holy Quran: 1 اَل ِشْمَت يِف ِضْرَاْلا اًحَرَم اَل ِشْمَت يِف ِضْرَاْلا اًحَرَم Do not walk in the earth haughtily. However, it is proven from a hadith that a man was strutting with his chest puffed up in a battle. The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw this and said that God Almighty dislikes this action, but Almighty Allah approves of it at a time like this. 2 1. S u rah Luqm a n, 31:19 [Publisher] 2. Al-Mu‘jam al-Kab i r li al- T abar a n i , B a b al-S i n, Sam a k ibn Kharshah Ab i Duj a nah al-An sa r i al-Badr i , Hadith 6508, vol. 7, p. 104, D a rul-A h y a’ al- Tur a th al-‘Arab i [Publisher]