During the days of his illness, Qazi Muhammad Alim Sahib, a resident of Qazikot, wrote to Qazi Ziya-ud-Din Sahib, who was also a resident of Qazikot but was in Qadian at the time, to submit a request for prayer to His Holiness (as). The Promised Messiah (as) said: “I will definitely pray for him. You should reassure Muhammad Alim. He should not give in to any apprehensions on account of Ahmad Shah, for indeed he is nothing. He ought to consider such evil suggestions to be an association of partners with God. The more people seek to mislead him, the more their mockery and ridicule begins to show its effects, the more he should consider his path to be clear and unimpeded. Satan cannot even touch those who possess complete faith. It is my belief that Adam (as) was somewhat neglectful in the use of his faculties. After all, this is why Satan was able to misguide him. By God, if the Holy Prophet (sas)—the unparalleled gem of a man that he was—had been put through the same test, Satan would have been utterly helpless.
An excessive desire for the present life is often the root of sin and weakness. Our friends must endeavour always to spend their precious time in attaining the pleasure of God, their True Master; this is everything. Otherwise, what difference is there in dying today or departing this world in another fifty years? The sun and moon that exists today, will be the same then. Allah the Exalted Himself blesses the life and health of a person who is beneficial to the world and is a servant of God’s religion; and He does not care about the evil designs of the people. So, in all circumstances, do your every deed for the sake of God, and Allah the Exalted will protect you Himself.
It has been more than thirty years since Allah the Exalted stated to me in categorical words that I would live to eighty years, or perhaps a few years more or less. There is an underlying secret in this statement, which is that the work assigned to me was destined to be completed in this number of years. Therefore, when I am ill, I am never grieved at the thought of death.
I remember vividly the trees that I played beneath when I was six or seven years of age. Even today, those trees stand in their places flourishing and thriving, as lush green as they were then. But when I look at myself, the state of affairs is completely different. You can reflect over this as well.
Consider the reproach and mockery of your contemporaries to be a blessing. This serves as a means of reformation for one’s soul. If this ceased to exist, how would your service to the Noble Lord and your offering to the God of Reverence be worthy of Him? You are worried on account of an illness. However, your brethren before you—the companions—swore allegiance on the very purpose of laying down their lives, and would always wait for the time when they could sacrifice their lives in the way of God, their True Master. Therefore, in every state of affairs, whether you enjoy good health or suffer an illness, keep your affairs in good standing with the Noble Lord. Everything as a result will turn out positively.”1
1 Badr, vol. 12, no. 2, dated 11 July 1912, p. 2