Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 107
107 infirm and have not the courage to do a good deed, to follow your example and do the good which they have seen you doing, In short, Almighty God has Himself expressed the wisdom of the words Xxilkjjj**, (i. e , yo. u must give your alms in secret as well as before men), and indicated plainly that you should incite people to good deeds not only by your words ami preaching, but also by your practice and example, for example is far more effica- cious than precept in most cases, It has been said in the Gospels that when you pray, you should go into^ your closet, but the Quran says to you that you should not always. pray in secret, but occasionally you must pray openly before men and in the congregations of your brethren so that when your prayer is accepted, it may increase the faith of your brethren, and also -that your example may lead others to pray to God- The Gospels praise those who are. poor, meek and lowly, as well as those who are persecuted and resist not the evil, but the Holy Quran says to yo. u that humility, meekness and non-resist- ance of evil are no doubt, commendable virtues, but if displayed on the wrong occasion, these are evils. Your good deeds, therefore, should be marked by the propriety of the occasion, for every virtue degenerates into a vice if not shown on the proper occasion. . Rain is beneficial if it cornes in time, but untimely rain is pro- ductive of loss. Mildness and severity, forgiveness and retaliation, blessing and cursing, and all other moral actions must be resorted to as the occasion arises for them. Be meek and humble but show not meekness or humility out of place. The Holy Quran, moreover teaches you that truly excellent moral qualities, not leavened with the poison of selfish desires, are only the gift of the holy spirit from above. You cannot acquire them by your endeavours until they are bestowed upon you from heaven. Anyone who claims