Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 151
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 151 you might be recorded in heaven as belonging to His Community. To display signs of His mercy has been the way of God from of old, but you can participate in it only when nothing separates you from Him and your will is subordinated to His will and your desire is identified with His desire. Your head should lie prostrate at His threshold in all conditions, whether of success or failure, so that He may do whatever He wills. If you do this, that God will manifest Himself in you Who has hidden His countenance since a long time. Is there anyone of you who is prepared to act in this way, so as to seek His pleasure and not to be disquieted by His decrees? When you encounter misfortune, you should step forth even more eagerly, for this is the only means of your progress. Try with all your might to spread His Unity in the earth, have mercy on His creatures, do not wrong them by your tongue or your hand or by any other means, and strive to promote their welfare. Entertain no pride against anyone, even if he is your subordinate, and revile not anyone, even if he should revile you. Become meek and good- intentioned and sympathizers with God's creatures, so that you may be accepted. There are many who appear meek but they are wolves inside. There are many who appear clean but are serpents inside. You cannot be accepted by Him unless you are the same inside and out. Being great, have mercy on the small and do not look down upon them. Possessing knowledge, admonish the ignorant ones, but do not humiliate them by showing off your knowledge. Being wealthy serve the poor and behave not arrogantly towards them out of self-love. Be fearful of the ways of ruin and fear God and adopt the ways of righteousness, and worship no creature and cut asunder from everything to turn to your Lord. Turn your hearts away from the world and becone wholly His, and live for Him and hate every impurity and sin, for He is Holy. Let every morning bear witness that you have spent the night in righteousness, and let every evening bear witness that you have spent the day in His fear. Be not afraid of the curses of the world, for they are apt to disappear like smoke, and they cannot convert day into night. You should be fearful of God's curse which descends from heaven and upon whomsoever it falls it consumes him in both worlds. You cannot save yourselves with hypocrisy, for your God's eye pene- trates you through and through; then can you deceive Him? Be straightforward, and clean, and pure, and true. If you have any