The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 363
13. THINKING ILL OF OTHERS. The habit of suspiciousness and thinking ill of others is an affliction which makes a person blind and plunges him into the dark pit of ruin. It is this unfortunate trait which brought about the worship of a dead human being. . It is the same trait which alienates people from the. Divine attributes of creation, mercy, providence, etc. , reducing God to a useless entity God forbid. It would be no exaggeration to state that it is in consequence of this habit that the greater part, indeed the whole, of hell will be filled. Those who think ill of the Commissioned ones of God Almighty scorn His bounties and His grace. [Malfūzāt, vol. 1, p. 100]. The habit of thinking ill is a great curse which consumes faith as quickly as blazing fire consumes tinder. God becomes the enemy of him who thinks ill of God's. Messengers and He stands up to fight him. He entertains such jealousy on behalf of His chosen ones, as has no equal. When I was attacked in diverse ways, the same jealousy of God was roused on my behalf. [Al-Waşiyyat, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 20, p. 317, footnote]. I tell you truly that the habit of thinking ill of others is a great affliction, which destroys a person's faith, flings him away from truth and rectitude, and turns friends into enemies. In order to acquire the excellences of the truthful it is necessary that a person should altogether shun the habit of thinking ill of others, and should he happen to fall into that 363