Malfuzat - Volume VII — Page 469
27 September 1905 469 of the conceit that he would be demeaning himself, he would be deprived of this virtuous act. What would be the result of this haughtiness? Only that he would be deprived of doing the good deed and came under the wrath of God Almighty. What benefit did he gain by it? Was it poison or something else? He is naive and fails to realize that he has consumed poison but after a short while it will become known that it has taken effect and it will kill him. It is absolutely true that many blessed opportunities are in the hands of the poor. Therefore, they should not envy the wealth and riches of the wealthy because they have been given the wealth that they do not possess. A poor man will be safe- guarded for free against many vices like cruelty, arrogance, selfishness, harming others, not fulfilling the rights of others, etc. , because he does not have the pretentious boasting and self-conceit that compels one to do these things. This indeed is the reason why when an Appointee and Messenger comes, the poor are the first to enter his Jam a ‘at because they do not have arrogance. The rich are plagued with this conceit and concern that if we become his followers, people will say that despite being such a great man, he has become a disciple of such and such a person. And even if he does become a disciple, he still remains deprived of many blessings, with a few exceptions if Allah so wills, because a poor person will find no shame in carrying out any service to his mentor and master, but the rich man will. However, if God Almighty bestows His grace and a rich man is not conceited about his wealth and riches but considers it his duty to spend it in the service and sympathy of God’s servants should an opportunity present itself, then he will inherit tre- mendous blessings.