Chosen Saints of God and the Bigoted Mullas — Page 4
ministry in spite of the fact that they are His chosen ones, while the world considers them to be forlorn and abandoned, and despite the fact that they are really very dear to Him, their enemies mistakenly consider them to be out of favour with God and rejected by Him. But that is not true. It could not, even for a moment, be imagined that God the High and the Mighty has begun to hate those who love Him and that He would destroy. His loving and faithful servants with infamy and dishonour. The real fact is that these trials, which may bear resemblance to a springing lion and look like utter darkness, are sent to them to enable them to reach the pinnacle of God's love and His favour. . These are also sent to teach them the secret of Divine knowledge. . This has been a Divine tradition from the earliest times with all. His beloved servants. . The humble call of David as mentioned in the Psalms and the urgent supplications of Jesus as described in the Gospels, also point out to this very tradition of God. The invocations and the solicitations of the Holy Prophet that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and the Traditions, do also come under the same rule. It would not have been possible for the prophets and the saints to reach the highest rungs of the ladder of God's pleasure in the absence of these trials, which verify and put a seal to their faithfulness, determination and their power of endurance. . These trials also serve to prove their tenacity of purpose and the depth of their love and fidelity for their Creator. They face violent storms of opposition; they go through periods of helplessness and embarrassments; they suffer humiliations and are called cheats, liars and pretenders; and for a short period of time it appears as if God's succour has deserted them completely and that they have been left uncared for and undefended. It appears as if God's support, which is always their mainstay, has hidden its face under dark clouds of tribulations. Outwardly it would seem as if God has, for no apparent reason, suddenly withdrawn His favours from them and has left them in the lurch. He appears to be displeased with them and does not take any interest in their affairs. Nay, it looks as if He is rather inclined towards their enemies. This period of trials stretches considerably and disaster after disaster fall upon them like a shower and storm in a dark night. 4