Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 299
299 in villages, in the mad race for wealth and in the heat of business people can hardly find time to bow down in submission be- fore their Master, and those that go through the external acts of devotion have their hearts in their business and not in the prayers which they offer. There is hardly anyone who can bow down his head in true submission and with his whole heart and soul. What is the cause of this spiritual letihargy and indiffe- rence to religion ? Nothing but that people are unaware of the heavenly enjoyment of prayers and have never tasted of their true bliss. There is a vast majority of people who would hate the call to prayer, because at that time they happen to be en- gaged in some business of theirs. Such men are to be pitied for their ignorance. They should pray to God with true zeal and sincerity -that they may be made to taste of the enjoyment of prayers as they have been granted senses with which they feel the physical pleasures. If they drink of this pure fountain but once, they will not forget its sweatness as long as they live- But as long as they are unaware of its beauties, it is hateful in their eye. To get up early in the morning from a warm bed when sweet slumber is soothing the senses to rest and to wash oneself in the cold season are heavy inconveniences if unattended with any compensatory benefit. The question then arises, how to obtain this pleasure in prayers without which they are but an inconvenient burden ? The drunkard goes on drinking and takes one cup after another until he gets intoxicated. He does not get tired with the first cup and leave drinking because it has not intoxicated him. He sets before himself the one object of getting the pleasure of in- toxication and devotes himself wholly to it. The man who has a longing for the divine joy which is to be found in prayers should have his attention and thoughts engrossed with it and all his