Testimony of the Holy Quran — Page 153
H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 153 and would not try my best to bring him relief and comfort. And if some brother-in-faith of mine speaks harshly to me out of haugh - tiness, how pitiful would it be if I, too, wilfully and knowingly, respond to him harshly. I should, on the contrary, patiently bear what he says and earnestly supplicate for him in my daily prayers, crying and weeping, for he is my brother and is spiritually ill. If my brother is naive, or not very learned, or makes a mistake out of naivety, I should not ridicule him or hastily frown at him in anger, or tell others of his shortcomings out of ill intention. All these are ways to destruction and no one can become a true believer unless he is tender-hearted and until he considers himself to be the most lowly in comparison with all others and unless all his haughtiness is far removed. Being a servant of the people is a mark of those destined to lead. And speaking to the poor in a kind man - ner while bowing humbly is the characteristic of those accepted by God. And responding to mischief with beneficence is the sign of good fortune. And suppressing anger and tolerating harsh words are acts of extreme courage. But I observe that these qualities are not found in some of the members of my Community. Rather, some are so ill-mannered that if a brother is stubbornly sitting on his bed, the latter seeks to forcibly remove him from it, and if the former refuses to be moved, the latter turns the bed upside down and throws him to the ground. 1 ٭ Then the former, too, does not hold back and starts 1. ٭ This is only meant as advice for my dear Community from me. There is no other purpose. No one else is permitted to name someone and de - scribe his character. Doing so will result in that person taking the path of sin and discord. (Author)