Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 524
Malfuzat - English translation of Urdu Volume 10 524 In short, any deed that has even a speck of pretentious- ness is doomed. It is as if a dog has put its mouth into a dish of sumptuous food. This disease is also quite prevalent in these days and most deeds are adulterated with pretentiousness. Actions should be free of this adulteration. In reality, man is excusable to some extent as he is susceptible to this adultera- tion because he is not perfect until such time when he achieves nafs-e-mutma’innah [the soul at peace] and becomes immune to the rebuke of others. His deeds should become so sincere that people—who applaud or curse, praise or revile—become equal in his eyes and he starts to consider them equivalent as if both are corpses who are capable of neither harm nor help to him. At this time, I am not discussing the merits of ً سِرًّا وَّعَلَنِیَۃ — hidden or open deeds. I am talking about the corruption caused by the ego. I do not say that all charity should be done in private and not in public. Every deed that is carried out with righteous intentions is rewarded. A pious person takes the lead in some work, and others join in the good deed by taking the cue from him. In this way not only does he get his reward but he gets a share from the reward of others as well. Thus, to carry out a good deed in this fashion with the intent that others would get inspired and persuaded to follow, has immense reward. The Importance of Sincerity In the Shariah, there are many subtle and fine matters that help develop the faculty of altruism. Altruism is a death that one has to accept for his ego. If a person notices that his ego feels pleasure in doing charity in public or giving alms or participat- ing in financial sacrifice, and it engenders pretentiousness, he should put an end to his pretentiousness. Instead of spending