So Said The Promised Messiah (as) — Page 55
BE WITH THE LIVING AND NOT THE DEAD I hate it very much that help should be sought from the dead people. This is done by those who are weak of Faith; it is they who turn their attention to the dead while they run away from the living people. God the Almighty says that when Prophet Joseph was alive they continued rejecting him, but the day he passed away, they started saying that the pi:o- phethood had come to an end, with his passing away from the world. God has nowhere instructed the people to go to the dead (i. e. to the graves of the dead to ask for their needs), rather he has commanded: Koonoo ma-assadiq_een (You should keep the company of the Truthful persons). and told the people to be in the company of the living people. That is why I ask my friends to be visitng this place frequently. God knows that my asking the friends to come here is in their own interest and I do so taking pity on them and it is a sort of sympathy on my part. I tell you the truth that o~ faith cannot be all right unless one keeps the company of a person who can be called "Man of the Faith". (Malfoozat Vol. II p. 53) WORSHIP AND HELP The Holy Quran has laid stress on lyyaka na"bodo wa iyyaka nastaeen (Thee alone do we worship and from Thee alone we ask for help). 55