The Essence of Islam – Volume IV — Page 287
Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama'at, and Instructions 152 إِنَّ اللهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ( 2 ) 287 [Malfūzāt, vol. 4, pp. 279-281]. Partake of the Holy Spirit through sympathy and purification of your selves, for true righteousness cannot be achieved without the Holy Spirit. Leaving all carnal passions, adopt, for the sake of winning the pleasure of God, the path narrow than which there should no other. Do not be infatuated with the pleasures of the world, for they estrange man from God. . Adopt a life of hardship for the sake of God. The pain with which God is pleased is better than the pleasure which displeases Him. The defeat which pleases God is better than the victory which should become the occasion of His wrath. Give up the love which brings you close to God's fury. If you come to Him with a pure heart, He will help you in every situation and no enemy will be able to harm you. You cannot win the pleasure of God except by giving up your own pleasure, your joy, your honour, your property and your life, and enduring for His sake such bitterness as should bring you virtually face to face with death. If you will endure bitterness, you will be taken up into the lap of God like a dear child and you will become heirs to the righteous ones who have passed before you, and the doors of every bounty will be opened for you. But few are such people. God has addressed me and said that righteousness is the tree that should be 152 Surely, Allāh suffers not the reward for those who do good to be lost. Al-Taubah, 9:120 [Publisher]