So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 175
that if someone abuses God, he will receive punishment with- out delay? No, it does not happen like that. The punishment is given at its appropriate time, that is, when the offence has been conclusively proved. Lekhram was an Arya and he used to abuse the Holy Prophet, sallallaho alaihi wa sallam, very much. Consequently he was punished by God for his misdeeds and wanton words. His tongue (which used to abuse the Holy Prophet) became a knife for him and proved fatal-it cut him into pieces. Thus, it should be remembered that this is not the prac- tice of God that He should punish the people (the offenders) instantaneously. How unwise are the people; they ask for punishment and they do not ask for guidance. (Malfoozat Vol. III, p. 342) TAQWA-NOT TRIBES God's pleasure does not lie in somebody's physique or this or that tribe; He always looks towards the Taqwa (right- eousness and the quality of fearing God). Inna akramakum indallahi atqakum (That is, the most honourable in the sight of God is the one among you who is most God fearing). It is quite false and meaningless to say that I am a Sayyed, a Mughal, a Pathan or a Sheikh. If somebody takes pride in his caste being a great one, he does something that is of no value. When a man has passed away from this world, all the castes become non-existent. God does not look to the 175