Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 182
182 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad spiritual guide and leader, 1 who is negligent of his followers for even a moment. ” The Promised Messiah as said: “Guidance and upbringing, in essence, is in the hands of God. Nagging incessantly and persisting on a matter beyond reasonable bounds, i. e. to prohibit and rebuke children on every little thing, demonstrates that we are, as if, the masters of guidance, and will be able to bring our children on the path that accords with our own will. This is a hidden form of associating partners with God. My community ought to refrain from such a practice. ” The Promised Messiah as categorically said, and also gave instructions in writing, that any teacher in our school who has the habit of hitting children and does not refrain from this inappropriate action should be dismissed immediately. The Promised Messiah as said: “I pray for my children, and see to it that they follow broad principles, etiquette and teachings; this is all, nothing more. Then, I place my entire trust in Allah the Exalted. The seed of goodness that is present in each of them, according to their nature, will flourish when the time comes. ” To Refrain from Affectation When the time came to build houses to meet the needs of guests, the Promised Messiah as emphasised again and again that it was useless to spend money on bricks and stone. Do what is sufficient to accommodate someone for a brief pe- riod. The carpenter was cleaning wooden panels and boards with a planer but the Promised Messiah as stopped him and said: “This is nothing but affectation. It is an unnecessary delay of time. Do what is necessary. ” The Promised Messiah as said: “Allah the Exalted knows that I have no love for any property. I consider my properties to be the shared possession of my friends, and I desire greatly that we all come together and spend some time with one another. ” The Promised Messiah as said: “It would please me if there were a place where my friends occupied houses on all four sides and my house was situated in the middle, with an entrance leading to every home that surrounded my own, so that I could remain in constant contact and interaction with each and every one of them. ” The Value of Time His Holiness disliked wasting time in unnecessary formalities. In regards to this, 1 Al-Hakam , vol. 4, no. 2, dated 17 January 1900, pp. 1-11, Letter No. 6 of Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib ra