Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 15
15 10 March 1899 Courage and High Resolve On his morning walk, the Promised Messiah as said: “A person must not lose hope. Determination is also a high moral quality and a believer is characterised by high resolve. One ought to always be ready to serve and support the Faith, and should never show cowardice. For cowardice is the mark of a hypocrite. A be- liever is gallant and courageous, but courage does not imply that they lack good judgement. Any action done without appropriate consideration of the prevail- ing circumstances is recklessness. A believer is free from haste. In fact, a believer remains prepared to serve the Faith with immense sagacity and forbearance, and is never cowardly. Sometimes a person will act in a manner that displeases God Almighty and thereby arouses His indignation. For example, if a person shoves away a beggar, this is harsh behaviour, which results in the displeasure of God Almighty. In turn, such a one becomes deprived of the opportunity to give something to the beggar. However, if a person acts in a gentle and noble manner, and even if he gives the beggar a cup of water, this results in a removal of the spiritual contraction of the heart (qabz). Seeking Forgiveness from Allah—The Cure for Spiritual Contraction Man undergoes a state of both spiritual contraction (qabz) and spiritual expan- sion (bast). In the state of spiritual expansion, one’s pleasure and delight in wor- ship heightens, the heart is opened, one’s inclination towards God increases, and warmth and comfort is derived from the Prayer. However, on certain occasions, man experiences a state in which this passion and eagerness is lost and the heart becomes constricted. When this state of affairs arises, one should seek forgiveness from Allah profusely, invoke salutations upon the Holy Prophet sa abundantly, and offer Prayer again and again. This is the only way to do away with one’s state of spiritual contraction of the heart. True Knowledge Logic or philosophy is no knowledge; in fact, true knowledge is that which God Almighty bestows by His mere grace. Such knowledge is a means of developing