Malfuzat - Volume VIII — Page 423
29 July 1906 423 actually not in one’s own power. Efforts in prayer must be from both sides. The one who is praying should try to concentrate on the presence of God Almighty, and the one who is asking for the supplications should keep reminding him to remain attentive. Remind him again and again and create a special relationship. He should continue to present his plight with patience and per- severance. Thus, at some point or another, a pain will arise [to pray] for him. Prayer is a great thing; when a person becomes disappointed from all sides, the last resort is prayer, which solves all problems. But the prayer of such attention definitely needs time, and it is not in the power of man to create pain in the heart for someone. It is mentioned regarding a Sufi that he was walking on the path when a boy fell in front of him and broke his leg. The Sufi felt pain in his heart and prayed right there and then before God and asked, ‘O God, fix this boy’s leg; otherwise, why did You cause pain in the heart of this cruel merciless one?’ My faith is that no matter what kind of financial or life-threat- ening difficulties befall a person, the last remedy for all of them is supplication. God Almighty is the Lord of everything; He does and can do whatever He wants and controls everything. When a man sets his affairs aright with a ruler or an officer and pleases him, he bestows many benefits upon him. Can God Almighty, who is the absolute Ruler and Lord, not be of benefit to him? Moreover, the matter of prayer is not such that a person should shoot from a distance and go away, but one should develop a relationship with the person who is requested for prayers. Look! You meet a person in the market by chance, and you grab him and demand that he become your friend, so how can he become your friend? A relationship is needed for a friendship to develop, and this can happen gradually. I want and desire that there should be a true pain in the heart for all humanity, but this matter is not in my hands, not