Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 304
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 8 304 And remember this as well that taqw a is not the name of abstaining from great evils; rather, avoid the subtlest of evils, such as sitting in gatherings where people are mocked and humiliated or sitting in meetings where Allah the Exalted and His Messenger are insulted, or where the dignity of one’s brother is being attacked, even though one is not participating in such actions, because it is also wrong in the sight of Allah the Exalted why one listened to such things. This is the behaviour of people with a disease in their hearts. If they had a complete understanding of evil in their hearts, why would they do this, and why would they go to these meetings and listen to such things? Also, remember this, that the one who hears such things is also the perpetrator of such things. Those who speak such things with their tongue are clearly going to be called to account because they have committed a sin, but those who have contin- ued to sit quietly by will also suffer the consequences of this sin. Remember this part with great care and read the Holy Quran repeatedly and ponder over it. Beneficence This is the first part of virtue, but virtue does not end here. Some people are also found among Hindus, Christians, and other nations who do not commit certain sins. For example, some people do not tell lies, do not devour the wealth of others unjustly, do not usurp debts but rather they repay them, and are reliable in social and familial dealings, but God has said He is not satisfied with just this much. What is required is that one should avoid evils and become engaged in the doing of good. Without it, there is no escape. He who is proud that he does not do evil is ignorant. Islam does not take a person to this stage