Life of the Promised Messiah — Page 28
28 Holiness as turned to me, smiled and said: “Our friends ought to refrain from such manners. ” Allah the Exalted knows well that I am a sensitive individual. In those days, I held a very stereotypical out- look on honour and disgrace, and considered myself to know well and hold justified views. Only God knows how embarrassed I felt in that gathering. I was deeply disappointed in myself for supporting the view of the old and experienced, kind-hearted, saintly man. My brothers! In relating this account, which I have done so with pure intentions, my purpose is to show the stark difference between a man who is inherently bless- ed with a pure disposition, who fulfils the rights due to others and who has come as a teacher of lofty mor- als, and others who deceive their own souls to believe that they have attained any station in the company of other spiritual mentors, or have developed good morals within themselves. The account that I was relating earlier remains unfin- ished. On hearing the incident in relation to the ill- tempered friend mentioned previously, the Promised Messiah as continued to speak at length about the kind treatment of women. Towards the end of his discourse, the Promised Messiah as said: “As for me, I once raised my voice to my wife. At the time I felt that this louder- than-normal voice of mine was mixed with sentiments of grief. Even though I had said no hurtful or harsh