Malfuzat – Volume I — Page 164
164 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad they solidify, like a rock, in the very manner of the branches I have just described. After they harden, they cannot be bent in any other direction. So too is the case with a person's heart and soul, which continue to move further away from God with every passing day. Therefore, to forsake Allah Almighty and ask of another is a very dangerous thing and makes the heart tremble. This is why it is absolutely necessary to regularly observe the Prayer, so that first and foremost, it becomes a deep-rooted habit and a person becomes inclined to turn towards Allah. Then gradually a time comes when one attains to a state in which they become completely detached from all other relations to the exclusion of Allah; and in this state, they become the recipient of divine light and derive pleasure in Prayer. I reiterate most emphatically that I unfortunately do not have the words with which to fully describe the evils in turning towards anything that is besides Al- lah. There are those who will submit to people and beg them with flattery. This rouses the jealousy of God Almighty because this is no different than 'praying' as it were, to other human beings. Thus, God Almighty distances Himself from such an individual and casts them away from Himself. I can describe the likeness of this in broad terms-although this is not the same thing-but one can clearly understand. For example, an honourable man who possesses indignation could never bear to see his wife engaged in intimate relations with another man. Just as this man would consider such a vile woman to be worthy of death-in fact, often such honour killings of the sort do happen to occur―so too is the nature of God's fervour and jealousy. Man's servitude and supplications must be devoted to Him alone. God cannot approve of anyone other than Him being declared worthy of worship or that anyone besides Him be implored. You must keep this in mind! I reiterate that you must take heed of this point! To submit to anything other than Allah is to move away from God. Whether one uses the word 'Payer' or the term oneness of God' it is all the same, because the practical expression by which an individual proclaims the oneness of God is through the formal Prayer. Further- more, the Prayer is unblessed and devoid of benefit when it is not observed with a spirit of self-effacement and humility, and when it is empty of a heart that is ever inclined to God. Making Recourse to Means Is Also an Aspect of Prayer 1 Take heed! The prayer which is referred to in the verse (Pray 1 al-Mu'min, 40:61