Way of The Seekers — Page 9
9 THE questions they want answered have to have clear-cut pres- criptive answers. So it is prescriptions they expect to have. The question everyone wants answered is: “What methods, exercises, ways, can we adopt which can procure release for us from sin and prompt us to do only good. ” The readiest answer is: Adopt the right way, abjure all sin. But as everybody knows that is not enough. They say: We have read the Quran, we have read the Hadith as best as one can, and we have read the books of the Promised Messiah, and made the necessary effort to steer clear of sinful living, but we have not succeeded. Now, having done all that, what more can we do? The question is quite legitimate. How to get over this weakness of man–that despite knowledge, despite effort and will, he does not always succeed in choosing and treading the right path. When I sat down to note some of the important points, I soon became aware that some topics comprised in this theme were bound to overlap topics discussed by me in an earlier speech delivered at an earlier Conference, published under the title, Irfan Ilahi (Deeper Knowledge of God). So I started re-reading that speech. I found that in the course of it I had made a promise that I would discuss this theme sometime in the future. This speech, therefore, is closely connected with the earlier speech. It is only by the grace of God that I have been reminded of my promise and I proceed to fulfill it. As I began, I was reminded of yet another thing. It was a long forgotten vision that I saw soon after the death of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). At the time I did not realize its significance. In the vision, I found myself sitting on a prayer mat after prayer. In my hand I am holding a book about which I am told is by Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. The name of the book is Minhaj al-Talibeen ( ). I read the book and put it aside. I then recalled that the book was to be returned to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I, and I begin to look for it. During the search I found another book.