The Essence of Islam – Volume III — Page 55
Faith, Certainty and Insight 55 forth shoots which strengthen it to a degree. By exercising control over carnal passions, these branches acquire strength and firmness. By safeguarding all branches of one's trusts and covenants, the tree of faith is enabled to stand firm on its trunk. Then, at the time of bringing forth fruit, the grace of a new capacity is bestowed on it, without which it can bring forth neither fruit nor flowers. [Brāhīn-e-Aḥmadiyyah, part V, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 21, p. 209, footnote]. Remember, it is never possible to get rid of sin without the certainty of faith. Without certainty, it is not possible to live the life of angels; without it, it is not possible to discard debauchery; without it, it is not possible to undergo a holy change and to be drawn towards God in an extraordinary manner; without it, it is not possible to leave the earth and climb to heaven; without it, it is not possible to have perfect fear of God; without it, it is not possible to tread along the delicate paths of righteousness and to purify one's conduct of all traces of ostentations. . Similarly, it is not possible without this certainty to reject worldly riches and honour, and be heedless of the favour of kings and to believe in God alone as one's treasure. [Nuzul-ul-Masiḥ, Rūḥānī Khazā'in, vol. 18, pp. 469-470]. Three Categories of the Faithful. Those who submit to God are, in fact, of three types. . First, those who, on account of the obstruction of worldly means, are not able to see God's beneficence clearly, and are not inspired by that eagerness which is generated by an appreciation of the grandeur of Divine beneficence; nor are they moved by the love which is inspired by a concept of the greatness of the Benefactor's favours. . They casually acknowledge God Almighty as the. Creator, but do not contemplate the details of Divine