Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 329
1 May 1908 329 to mind even so much as a stray thought, and there is neither righteousness nor piety, and yet one remains hopeful of meet- ing God—this is impossible. Now, finally, the time has come to hand over recompense to those who give preference to the Faith over their worldly concerns. Nothing can be achieved without the will and help of Allah. Look, the Noble Prophet s as had given up the world for the sake of God, but look how God Almighty humbled the world and cast it before him like slaves. The world runs miles away from those who pursue it, but it chases and pursues the one who advances towards God with a sincere heart and pays no attention to the world in the way of God. Look, there are 400 million people who worship Jesus as at this time. They believe in his ‘Divinity’, not just his propheth- ood. These are all examples of the might of God showing that the one who comes to God is never wasted. He attains faith and the world is also brought before him. One who adores this world may have his way for a few days but, in the end, he will lose this world, and his life in the Hereafter will be ruined as well. Look, the world similarly cannot be obtained for free. Those who promise the world also expect you to put forth strenuous efforts and they also test you, and you get something only after being successful in the test and by exhibiting good performance in your work. Likewise, if the same effort—albeit in the con- text of faith—is made in the way of God, its reward is assured. You lose neither the faith nor the world. It is like killing two birds with one stone. Double the reward. Nevertheless, there are but few who benefit from this advice. Man should continue to make supplications and try to effect some change in himself. It may be that Allah the Exalted will grant him the ability. I am not advocating that a farmer should stop farming, a businessman should stop his business, and a craftsman should