Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 361
2 May 1908 361 Meaning, those who strive with passion and yearning to find God through God—their effort and hard work is not wasted, and they are most certainly shown the right path and are bestowed guidance. One who takes a step toward God with honesty and sincere intention, God advances towards him to guide him to the right path. It is incumbent upon man to pon- der and to develop within himself true yearning and thirst for seeking the truth. He should pursue the means that Allah the Exalted has prescribed to increase the expanse of his knowl- edge. God ceases to care for the one who does not care for Him, as He Himself says: 1 َّنِا َهّٰللا ٌّيِنَغ ِنَع َنْيِمَلٰعْلا َّنِا َهّٰللا ٌّيِنَغ ِنَع َنْيِمَلٰعْلا Effort and the true anguish of a sincere heart is needed for the acceptance of supplications as well. Just look at the variety of dangerous efforts people undertake for worldly exams. At times they lose their minds due to the intense mental exertion. At times, serious illnesses like insanity, tuberculosis, etc. develop. And if they fail, some people become so distressed that they well-nigh commit suicide. Thus, they bear such a variety of hardships for this transient, worldly life. Their successes are, at least in some part, the result of their own hard work. If they were to sit idle and not prepare for the exam, who would expect them to succeed? So, when some people still fail even with intense toil and trouble, what would be the condition of those who didn’t even try? I accept that some who make the effort still fail, but this does not mean that they should never try again. This is a 1. Allah is surely independent of all creatures ( S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:98). [Publisher]