Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 320
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 8 320 His intention was different. Now he asked him to swear that he would not mention it until he died. Hearing this, the elder began crying. The man asked why he was crying. The elder replied that he was crying because the manner with which this was done in secrecy meant that the people would curse him as long as they lived. In short, the man left, but God Almighty ultimately revealed this matter. Fortunate is the One who Avoids Ostentation A person who reconciles with God Almighty secretly, God Almighty bestows honour upon him. Do not think that what you do secretly for God will remain hidden. There is no greater enemy of virtues than ostentation. An ostentatious person’s heart never finds contentment until it takes everything. On the contrary, ostentation burns all wealth and leaves nothing behind. Fortunate is the person who avoids ostentation and does whatever he does for the sake of God alone. The character of an ostentatious individual is strange. When he has to spend for God, he is frugal, but when there is an occasion for ostentation, he gives a hundred in place of one where otherwise he would have considered the giving of two sufficient for that purpose. For this reason continue praying for protection from this disease. Those who believe Allah the Exalted is All-Hearing and All-Seeing do not care about such things. They do not care at all whether anyone mentions the wealth they have given. The world is رخت ٓا زمرہع [ Mazra‘ah-e- A khirat ], meaning that the Hereafter is cultivated in this very world. Create whatever you want to create in this world. The one who accumulates spiritual wealth and property here will be prosperous. Otherwise, one will have to leave here empty-handed and suffer great punishment. At