Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V — Page 315
APPE N DI X to B AR Ā H Ī N-E-A H M ADIY YA — PART F IV E 315 stage becomes greater than the second stage, and the purity of the self is engendered by it; for, to give away wealth earned with one’s hard labour, merely out of a fear of God, is not possible without the purity of the self. Then, the fourth act of a believer—which carries the strength of faith to fourth stage—according to sound reason is that he not only renounces wealth for the sake of God, but he also renounces the part which is unlawful of what he loves more even than wealth; namely, his carnal passions. I have stated that everyone naturally values his carnal pleasures more than wealth, and one sacrifices wealth for their pursuit. So, renouncing carnal desire for the sake of God is much more difficult than renouncing wealth. And the word َحَلْفَا [ afla h a ] which applies to this verse as well, here means that just as a man naturally has a closer tie with carnal desires, so—after he renounces them—a corresponding closer tie develops with God Almighty, for whosoever loses a thing for the sake of God, he finds something better in its place. دنک ہن اطابلن ک رت ِ او لُطف دنک ہن ز�یان ِ رشہ اكر ہب سک His grace does not forsake the seekers; In His path no one suffers loss. �یاہتف اتس ق ُ ب آن راہ � ہک رہ اتس رساتنہتف ہک رو آن اتتف Whoever seeks this path, finds it; Bright becomes the face that does not turn away from Him. Then, the fifth act of a believer—which carries the strength of the faith to the fifth stage—according to reason is that he should renounce not only carnal desires but should renounce the very self for the sake of God and be ready to sacrifice it. That is to say, the self which is a trust from God should be returned to the same Owner and that he should consider his relationship with his self limited just like the ownership of a trust. He should fulfil the demands of righteousness in a manner as