The Essence of Islam – Volume V — Page 87
The Plague 87 other wealthy people, most of them are steeped in licentiousness, and are given to drinking, adultery, immorality and extravagance. They are Muslims in name only. They are totally indifferent to religious matters and have no sympathy for their faith. . Now, since the Revelation which I have just mentioned shows that this is a matter of Taqdir-e-Mu'allaq [Conditional Destiny] and can be averted through repentance, seeking God's forgiveness, doing good deeds, renouncing sin, offering charity, and bringing about a pious change in oneself, I therefore urge everyone to adopt piety from the bottom of their hearts, and occupy themselves with righteous deeds, and renounce all transgression and depravity. Muslims should sincerely follow the commandments of Allāh, observe the daily prayers and eschew all kinds of sinful and immoral acts. They should repent and do good deeds, while fearing and remembering Allāh, the Almighty. . They should conduct themselves kindly towards the poor, the neighbours, the orphans, the widows, the wayfarers and other helpless people. They must offer charity and alms and offer their prayers with congregation. They should cry and beseech God in their prayers so as to be saved from this calamity. They should wake up in the small hours of the night and supplicate in their prayers. In short, they should perform all kinds of good deeds and avoid wrongdoing of every description, and should fear God Who, in His wrath, can destroy the whole world in an instant. . .