Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 317
29 December 1905 317 True Monotheists Understand it well that true monotheists are those who do not make the slightest display of their virtues and are not afraid of the world in accepting the truth. They do not care if the world becomes alarmed by any of their actions. Some say that the extent to which the Companions ra used to strive or fast is not proven in the case of the Holy Prophet, may peace and bless- ings of Allah be upon him. Some of the Companions ra had well-nigh reached a life of monasticism. It does not follow from this that they were (God forbid) superior to the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Instead, the real issue is that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was brought before the world by Allah the Exalted through force and coer- cion. His habit of living behind a veil had not gone away. Who knows how much striving and worship he remained engaged in secretly. On one occasion Hadrat Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, states that it was the day that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would stay at her home. When she opened her eyes at night, she saw that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was not there. She was very surprised and looked for him. When he was nowhere to be found, she discovered that he was in a ceme- tery supplicating with intense fervour, ‘O my God! My soul, my life, my bones, my every hair prostrates before You. ’ Now, had Ayesha, may Allah be pleased with her, remained unaware of this incident, who would have fathomed his inter- personal relationship with his Lord? The same was the case with his striving and worship. Since Allah makes it a habit of these people that they stay hidden, the world does not come to know about their entire state of affairs. They do not do anything for