Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 144
! ! 144 by the same criterion of whether or not its fruit is worthy and useful. Does the organization fulfill its objectives according to that which a spiritual movement instructs? If an organization can demonstrate through its influence, effectiveness, and beneficence that it fulfills the purpose towards which a spiritual movement strives, then it is superior an d true. However, if a movement cannot prove its worthiness by its fruit, then it does not deserve to be considered truthful. People harbor doubts regarding our movement because it declares thei r beliefs and views to be false and rejects them. In general, it is these people who stand against our movement and attempt to find faults. However, it is easy and effortless for the wise and just person to judge whether the fruits of this movement are similar to those of previous spiritual movements. If he witnesses that the fruits are similar , then he is obliged t o accept this movement as being spiritual as well. However, if he is still critical , then it is due to his own inner faults and defects and not because the movement is untruthful. For instance, i f sugarcane is of superior quality and someone finds it bitter , then it will be the fault of the person tasting it, not of the sugarcane itself. Similarly, if a person receives a bitter taste in his mouth upon tasting a sweet fruit , it is not because the fruit is bad , rather it is because the person is ill. Thus, if it can be proven by arguments and observations that a certain food is delicious, any complaints there after of the food tasting bland , unpleasant , or too salty, does not signify that the food is bad, but that th ere is something wrong with those who are tasting it. In such cases, there is no need to alter the food , instead it is necessary to treat the critic’s infirmity. The testimony of their nose, tongue, and mind is not enough to justify altering the food, but it will point to the fact that their illness should be addressed. At this tim e , our movement and the recently announced scheme stands true according to this r ule. Three to four weeks ago , I announced the appeal for the Berlin Mosque. Our Jama ‘ at is compose d of the weak and the poor. Thus, by looking at its expenses, who could say that we would collect the large sums which