Advice for Missionaries — Page 4
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad 4 ْوَا ْدِز ۰۰ ۤٗهَفْصِّن ِوَا ْصُقْنا ُهْنِم اًلْيِلَقۙ ۰۰ ِمُق َلْيَّلا اَّلِا اًلْيِلَقۙ ۰۰ ُلِّمَّزُمْلاۙ اَهُّيَاٰۤي 4 ۰۰ ِهْيَلَع َو ِلِّتَر َنٰاْرُقْلا اًلْيِتْرَتؕ The rust accumulated in the heart from the dealings of everyday life should be removed by standing for prayer at night and repeatedly supplicating with complete humility and meekness. FASTING Fasting is also beneficial and is an excellent means of removing rust [from a person’s heart]. The companions of the Prophet Muhammad sa would fast regularly. In our community, there are lots of people who are negligent in this. Fasting emphatically purifies a person’s inner self; therefore, one should fast as frequently as possible. One should also retreat into quietness and solitude away from the company of people, even if it is only for fifteen or twenty minutes a day; if it is for a short while then so be it, but a period [of the day] should be devoted to the silent remembrance of Allah. A good time to remember Allah is when one is free 4 O thou who art bearing a heavy responsibility , stand up in Prayer at night except a small portion thereof—Half of it, or make it a little less than that, or make it a little more than that—and recite the Qur’an slowly and thoughtfully. Surah Al-Muzzammil , 73:2-5 [Publishers]