Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam — Page 176
176 says, 'Some thoughts of the mind are sinful' (i. e. , those that are the outcome of evil suspicions). 81 Similarly, oppressive, disorderly and dishonest designs are immoral according to Islam although the person who entertains them is unable to carry them out owing to lack of courage or lack of means. Such a person does not deserve to be called good, merely on the basis of such of his actions as can be seen. Conversely, a man who has the good of humanity at heart and is anxious to serve his fellow-beings and to promote their welfare, is according to Islam a good man, although he may be unable to translate his thoughts and wishes into action owing to lack of means or opportunities for such service. There is, however, an exception to this general rule. A man who is assailed by evil thoughts,—for instance, by pride, jealousy, hate or evil suspicions, but who suppresses them, is not guilty of an immorality, for such a man really combats evil and deserves commen- dation. Conversely, a man who experiences a sudden rush of good thoughts or a sudden inclination towards doing good, but does not encourage such thoughts or inclination, does not deserve to be called a good man on that account, for, as has already been said, good or bad morals are the result of deliberation and design, and in these two instances good and evil thoughts were not the result of deliberation, but were, as it were, involuntary. The Holy Quran illustrates this principle in the verse: 81 Al- H ujur a t, 49:13.