Advice for Missionaries — Page 2
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad 2 long hours of the night prostrating before God and weeping in supplication. This is how the companions of the Holy Prophet sa established their faith and nur - tured their souls even in a state of exhaustion. Sometimes, a person can become so consumed by their commitment to preaching that they begin to neg- lect their prayers. This is not appropriate. Any under- taking is only beneficial if it is done in moderation and at the proper time and place. A person should not neglect their own well-being at the expense of doing good for others. It is vital that they purify their own souls. They should study the Holy Qur’an and then examine themselves accordingly. As much as preaching is a noble pursuit, it can still corrode the heart. For example, a person might succumb to arrogance on account of silencing an adversary with a powerful argument. Conversely, if their words prove ineffectual and are met with disdain, it might cause them to despair. At other times, the heart itself rebukes a person for presenting an opinion in a dishonest manner. Thus there are numerous ways in which the heart of a person can be tarnished. It is clear from the hadith literature that the Holy Prophet sa would recite istighfar when he sat in any gathering, even though he possessed the most exalted status and his discussions were always righteous. He