Advice for Missionaries — Page 13
13 FOCUS ON PRAYER It is essential for a missionary to always recite the following prayer: O’ my Lord, let me not divert people from the right path. I have offered this supplication ever since I was appointed as the khalifa. [I am reminded here of ] an amusing story related to [one of the four main imams of fiqh]. One day, it was raining and the imam noticed a boy running past him. The imam said to him: ‘Boy, be careful so that you do not fall. ’ The clever boy replied: ‘Do not be concerned about my falling, because if I do, I will only hurt myself. You should be more worried about yourself, because if you fall, the whole community will fall with you. ’ This had a profound impact on the imam. Hence, a missionary should always bear in mind that if they fall, the community they tend, will also fall with them. As has been witnessed, it was the [spiritual] fall of the maulawis that resulted in the fall of the Muslims. Hence, the following two points must always be kept in mind: first a missionary ought not to say anything without reflecting over it. Second, a missionary ought to always offer the following supplication: O’ my Lord, make whatever I say a means of guidance. O’ my Lord, if what I say is wrong then prevent people from treading on