Malfuzat – Volume II — Page 40
40 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad struggle happily for His sake. It is not necessary for a man to undertake strenuous exercises and always be present. I observe that the sweeper who comes to my house undertakes immense toil, and that even our very honourable and sincere friends could not do the work that he does. Now would I view my sincere friends as unworthy on account of this, and look at the sweeper as being worthy of more esteem and honour? We have certain friends who come to visit us after extended periods of time and it is not possible for them to sit in our company often, but I know full well that their hearts are moulded in such a way, and their dispositions have been vested with such sincerity and love, that when the time comes, they will offer great services in our cause. The same principle is to be found in the law of nature as well. The more some- thing is raised in station, the lesser its toil and labour. Just take the example of process servers. They are handed a heap of documents and are ordered to comply and report back within one week. Come rain or shine, be it winter, or even if vil- lage roads are damaged and difficult to traverse, no excuse is accepted. And after all this, if you ask them their wage, they receive a meagre five rupees. However, the circumstances of high-ranking officials is at a stark variance. Asceticism Does Not Lead to Perfect Knowledge of the Divine This law of nature clearly demonstrates that the divine law deals with the beloved of God Almighty in the same manner. Engaging in dangerous meditations, and rendering one’s limbs and faculties lifeless through various exercises, is absolutely absurd and futile. This is why our Perfect Guide, on whom be peace and blessings, has said: ِ م َ ِسْل ْ رَھْبَانِیَّۃ َ فِی ال َ ل There is no asceticism in Islam. That is to say, the fundamental quality of Islam may be described as such: ل�ٰہ�یہ اتہم اقمبد�ی� ر ا ت قف� رگدن اہندن ربمکح دخا و وما To bow one’s head before the command of God and fully accept the decrees of the Divine. When a person develops this quality, there is no need for asceticism. In other words, such exercises and meditations are not required. ”