Life Supreme — Page 45
48. LIFE SUPREME. There is no explanatory reason why two persons are sometimes drawn together by deep bonds of love. Neither invited the love. It just found its way into their hearts. More or less in a similar way jealousy finds its way into peoples' hearts. It is not invited. The spiritual man abhors its presence and does all in his power to combat it with the aid of prayers and mental discipline; and as much as he is successful so is he more easily able to resist and combat it in the future until such times that he becomes a master of himself and is no longer violable to its obtrusion. "May Allah be our Protector from the evil of the envier when he envies. ". SELFISHNESS (133:16). Disinterest and negligence in the welfare of others is selfishness. It breeds unfriendliness which in turn generates feelings of rancour. . Islam teaches the value and importance of charity especially towards one's neighbours. Indifference is selfishness. Neglect of responsibility towards others is selfishness. Grievances, grudges and ill-will often stem from selfishness. It has been said: "Selfishness is the root and source of all natural and moral evils. ' (Emmons) "Selfishness is the great unknown sin. " (Southern Churchman). Naturally one is not obliged morally to concede to all the wishes of everyone; but one should avail oneself of opportunities in rendering service to others on appropriate occasions even at one's own inconvenience. Hazrat Ali has said: "To do good to others and help them mercifully is a sign of nobleness and magnanimity. '. ANGER. A moral quality is an emotion exercised under correct control. . Anger is not improper on certain occasions. The Promised Messiah said that he would become angered on learning that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had been abused or insulted. Our concern is the retention of anger on improper occasions. . Anger arouses ill feeling which is the same as rancorous thinking; and this is what we are trying to avoid because it is a hellish state of mind: "A man in a passion rides a mad horse. " (Benjamin Franklin)