The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam — Page 299
298 Α'ΙΝΑ-Ε-ΚΑMĀLĀT-E-ISLAM-DAFI UL-WASĀWIS This assessment of your efforts formed by some people may perhaps be partially true, that if Sayyed Şahib had not supplied this food for such people, then only God knows how they might have degraded themselves like animals. Had this been your motive, even then, in my opinion, it was not free from error, for you cannot prevent anyone's inherent evil from expressing itself. Allah, glorified be His eminence, says: كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَى شَاكِلَتِهِ Meaning that everyone acts according to his nature. One should only teach the truth regardless of whether anyone accepts it or not. This is the way of the Prophets, and not that one should destroy one's own eye upon seeing another blind person. There may be a hidden fear in your mind that the ship of Islam was in great danger amid the storm of this new philosophy, and although it was full of jewels and carried a fine cargo-as it had been overwhelmed by a violent storm-it was expedient at the time of such a sudden calamity when there was no other help, that some of those bundles of jewels and fine cargo be thrown into the sea and that having made the ship a little lighter, human lives might be saved. If this was your motive, it was an unwarranted disobedience, which was none of your business. The Captain of this ship is God Almighty, not you. He has repeat- edly affirmed His promise that this ship would never be in such dan- gers till the Day of Judgment, and that He would always save it from the ravages of storms and unfavourable winds, as is the promise: إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحْفِظُونَ 20 Meaning that: 'We Ourselves have sent down this Word and We will always continue to protect it. ' 1. Sūrah Bani Isrā'īl, 17:85 [Publisher] 2. Sūrah al-Hijr, 15:10 [Publisher]