Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 397
Undated 397 demonstrating with actions. He should be a scholar who prac- tices what he preaches. He should possess veracity, fidelity, and courage because a person who is not practising what he preaches cannot have any influence on others. Thirdly, he should possess an attraction. There was no Prophet who did not have the power to attract people. Every Appointed One of God is given a force of attraction such that he pulls others towards him while sitting in his place and peo- ple keep being drawn toward him. Fourthly, he should show miracles and marvels and strengthen the people’s faith through Signs. None of these things can be found among these preachers. Need of an Imam Foolish people say, what is the need for an Imam? All the peo- ple are discharging their duties in their respective places, they perform H ajj and offer their Prayers, etc. Nevertheless, these people utter a lie. At present, they possess neither internal nor external excellence. The blessings that Allah the Exalted men- tioned about such people: 1 َتْمَعْنَا ْمِهْيَلَع َتْمَعْنَا ْمِهْيَلَع Where are those favours found among them? These people are themselves engulfed in darkness. Their morals are bad and their deeds are evil. They are deprived of faith; religion remains merely a ritual—an empty shell with no essence. Such is the state of external attacks that there is 1. On whom You have bestowed Your blessings ( S u rah al-F a ti h ah, 1:7). [Publisher]