Testimony of the Holy Quran — Page 155
H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 155 inclines towards virtue after having acquired the ability to distin - guish between virtue and sin. Hence, you should seek for your eyes not only the sight which animals also possess, but also true sight. Cast out from your hearts worldly idols because the world is opposed to faith. Soon you shall die and see that only those attain salvation who were free of, and disgusted by worldly pursuits and had pure hearts. I have become tired saying these things again and again, that if these are the state of your affairs, then what exactly is the difference between you and the others? But these hearts are so constituted that they pay no heed and I do not expect these eyes to gain sight except if God so wills. I am indeed disgusted with such people both in this world and in the hereafter. If I had been alone in some jungle it would have been better than the company of such people who do not see the grandeur of the commandments of God Almighty and do not tremble before His majesty and honour. If a person just verbally declares that he is a Muslim without possessing real virtue—or if a hungry one were simply to utter the word ‘bread’ with his tongue—of what use would that be? By these methods, neither would the first attain salvation nor the second fill his stomach. Does God Almighty not see the hearts? Does the profound sight of the All-Knowing and All-Wise not reach the deepest recesses of man’s constitution? Hence, O foolish ones, understand well! And O heedless ones, consider carefully that without true purity—of faith and of morals and of deeds—there can be no freedom in any way. And one who, despite remaining impure in every way still considers himself a Muslim, does not deceive God Almighty, but deceives only himself. And what do I have to do with those who do not wholeheartedly endeavour to follow religious injunctions, and do