Way of The Seekers — Page 59
59 THE c. It should do nothing which harms others. d. It should be ready to accept cheerfully all rewards and punishments bestowed and imposed by the community. 4. The criteria of the fourth characteristic are as follows: a. It should have due eagerness and respect for the word of God – the Holy Quran. b. The mere mention of the name of God should halt it in its stride and make it assume a respectful posture. c. It should be in the world but not of the world. d. It should exhibit its person the signs of its love for God. Safeguarding Against Sin After the moral education of a child, the question arises: How can it be safeguarded against sin? Before turning to the main theme, I would like to impress upon you the importance of Zikr-Ilahi – Remembrance of God. Remember, you are not here to witness a show or attend a carnival. You are here to listen to and meditate on things divine. Therefore, do not forget to observe the proprieties. I am afraid some of us fail to maintain the sanctity of the occasion. They keep coming and going or indulge in small talk. I know all those who are attending this session are not Ahmadis. At a guess, some eight hundred to one thousand non Ahmadies are also present. They are not accustomed to listen- ing to long speeches with sustained attention; nor for that matter, can they exercise as much self-control as the members of the Movement can. Little wonder, therefore, if they are restless and keep moving. But they are not the only ones who move. In all innocence, Ahmadis too do so possibly to convey on their own, the message of Ahmadiyyat to their non-Ahmadi brethren. But remember, your primary duty is to your own selves.