So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 182
is patient and steadfast and does not complain and harbours no evil thoughts, he is granted a promotion. The Holy Quran has told us very clearly that it is vitally important that the trials, and tribulations should have to be faced before the perfection of Faith. It says: Do the people think that they would be left (i. e. there would be no trials for them) simply because they have said: Aamanna (we have believed) and they would naot be tried. Look at the Prophets, peace be on all of them. They are very greatly tortured in the beginning. The Holy Prophet, sallallaho alaihi wa sallaIJl, had to pass through great hardships during his stay at Mecca. When he went to Ta'if, he was stoned so much that his injuries started bleeding. At this stage, he said (to himself): "How strange. I talk to the people and they turn away from me. " Then he said to God: "O my Lord, I will show patience in the presence of all these troubles and I will continue doing so till You express pleasure for this attitu- de of mine. " This has always been the way of the Friends of God and the divines. Sayyed Abdul Qadir Jilan,i also says that one of the characteristics of Love is that it attracts troubles and tribulations. If one is patient during the hard times and he accepts with pleasure what God destines for him, this attitude of his becomes a means of the removal of difficulties. The Conquest of Mecca was the result of the hardships that the Holy Prophet, sallallaho alaihi wa sallarn, had to face. 182