Someone mentioned his dream that he was told in the dream figs are grown in Gujrat and that he should drink the juice of figs.
The Promised Messiah (as) said a dream requires interpretation. The fig protects against the effects of heat. The fig [تِیْن—tin] is also mentioned in the Quran, but there it appears in a different context. There it provides proof of prophethood.
The science of medicine is conjectural. Someone may like one medicine while another may like a different one. One medicine proves harmful for a particular person while that same proves beneficial for another. The mystery of medicines and curing someone is in the hand of God; no one has that knowledge.
Only yesterday I was about to use a medicine when I received the revelation: ‘Dangerous.’ One should take care using medicines and not rely on estimates, rather they should definitely be weighed.
If the Aryas had not spouted this filth, I would not have been so moved. Their objections became the reason for me to present verities and insights. The zeal that other nations have to donate for the needs of their national religious tasks is not present in the Muslims. Perhaps this is because کریمان را بدست اندر درم نیست—those who like to give are far from wealth, but there are also many princes and rich and prosperous people among Muslims. The objective before every Muslim should be the propagation of Truth. Previously, when the Muslims enjoyed an age of success, it was the result of their achieving excellence in the Faith.
Now again, if they want to see that same previous age of success, they should turn their attention to religion. Following in the footsteps of these others will not yield true Muslims any results. Instead of improving their own condition, those who have appointed themselves the reformers among Muslims want to amend the commandments of Islam regarding Prayer and Fasting. They see the progress of the Muslims tied to such actions. God Almighty desires progress through the Faith but they seek success by abandoning the Faith. They will not achieve success in this way. Islam alone believes God to be One without partner. If these Muslims also part from this Oneness of God, it will not bode well for them.
Following the footsteps of other nations would not be a blessing for them. If others achieve success even through being irreligious, it is by way of a trial. God Almighty deals with each person separately. Christians may be involved in unpleasant deeds, they may drink and gamble, and it may be of benefit to them, but if Muslims do such deeds they will most certainly have the wrath of God descend upon them.
Look, the worldly governments also act in this way. If a servant of the king participates in some treacherous actions, he is given an exemplary punishment. Thus, in the same way, those who recite the Kalimah [creed of Islam] are God’s special servants, yet if they become guilty of impertinence and disobey Allah the Exalted, they will most certainly be seized.
In the following revelation that I received:
وہ وعدہ ٹلےگا نہیں جب تک خون کی ندیاں چاروں طرتف سے بہہ نہ جائیں
‘The promise will not be averted till streams of blood have flown in all directions.’
There is an indication in this that Allah the Exalted does not desire [belief in] His Oneness to disappear from the world. When Muslims themselves begin to like disbelief and start associating partners with Allah, then what complaint can we lodge against other nations? When one’s home is clean and pure, only then can he reform others. Atheism is increasing among all nations. God Almighty desires to prove His existence. So according to اوّل خویشان بعد درویشان [‘First the kinsmen, then the mendicants’], we have a duty to first reform our own nation.
When there are thousands of evil practices among Muslims themselves, what can we say to others? They cry for jihad, but I say that if we were given the command to carry out jihad, it would be waged against them first. It is Allah’s practice to first straighten the people among whom there is a Book, before focusing on others. The example of the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is there. He first reformed the Quraish before turning his attention to the Jews and Christians.
There are two types of people among the Muslims. One group who does not even know how to recite the Kalimah and from among these are also those concerning whom the Aryas keep making it well known that we have made so many Muslims Aryas. I saw many such men in the mountains that had no knowledge of Islam at all. The second group are those who are considered educated and civilized. They look upon the religion of Islam with disdain. They laugh and mock at the tenets relating to Prayer and say that this Prayer and Fasting pertain to the age of savagery, that these commandments are not appropriate for the present age. Thus, reformation of both these groups is necessary above all, but what reformation can we bring about until it is not implemented from heaven?
Those who are ready to listen I speak to happily, but there are some who turn away and do not listen when you say something to them or they veer the conversation in another direction. A poisonous wind of alienation from religion is blowing that has destroyed some, blinded others, and makes others yet lazy. There are only a few who cultivate a relationship with Allah. It is essential to prove the existence of God. There are many groups, but atheists are the largest. Divine Grandeur no longer exists at all, but what is there to discuss about Grandeur when belief in the very existence of God no longer remains!
There has been some bloodshed in the days of each Prophet.
مَا کَانَ لِنَبِیٍّ اَنْ یَّکُوْنَ لَہٗۤ اَسْرٰى حَتّٰى یُثْخِنَ فِی الْاَرْضِ 1
The things that were destined to take place at the hands of man are at an end. Now Allah has taken all such matters into His own hand. This plague, earthquakes, diseases, and catastrophes of all kinds are all the swords of Allah. The amazing thing is that tragedies upon tragedies and calamities upon calamities come, but apart from the members of my Jama’at, no one else is moved by them. These misfortunes are all an attempt to drive heedlessness away from the people and to make them adopt humility so they may realize that God exists.
Look, afflictions are taking place on all sides and who knows what more is yet to come in the future? My belief is indeed that now whatever will be done will be done by God alone. Surgery is the last remedy. All other treatments have been attempted. So this is the last cure; now the patient will either die or be restored to health.
Several hundreds of thousands of people have died, but the practical condition of those remaining shows that nothing whatsoever has yet come to pass! They are still far removed from the side of truth and much closer to the side of evil. Istighfar [seeking forgiveness] should be engaged in.
In the past, it used to be the case that during times of epidemics, Muslim kings would generally draw attention to repentance, prayer, charity, and almsgiving continually. However, now, not only does this not occur, but to even mention the name of God is considered contrary to civility!
The Sultan-ul-Muazzam2 consulted his viziers about a certain matter and asked for suggestions regarding it. After hearing the advice of all, he expressed surprise that no one had mentioned supplication and praying to Allah. He was, after all, the son of a Muslim. There was at least something of the worship of God within him. He attends the Friday Prayer and also keeps contact with the ascetics, so he is virtuous on account of this.
God Almighty declared in the beginning age that I am your God and now again, in the Latter Days, He has said that أَنَا الْمَوْجُوْدُ [I am present]. Remember that He is the Guide. If He were to let go, everyone would become an atheist. Thus, He continues to provide proof of His Being and this age is in particular need of this.
The thing that reigns its effect comes to be manifested. If today a righteous man who has attained the truth cannot influence thinking, then obviously misguidance still reigns. When such a wind blows, everyone is affected. Although a believer remains safe, he cannot cast his influence upon others. The awe and influence of misguidance is such that there are many very highly educated people and no one dares say anything to them about religion lest they become upset or that people make fun of me or mock me.
We should look at the example of the Noble Companions of the Holy Prophet (sas). During a period of weakness for Islam, the Holy Prophet (sas) wrote letters to all the rulers. That was not a very civilized age either nor was it a time of peace like now. The Companions (ra) took these letters and explained their beliefs in the very courts of these rulers. When this message of Islam reached one Christian king, he exclaimed that this appears to be the message of the same God who sent the Torah and said that if he could go this Prophet, he would kiss his feet. He sent for the priests and said to them, ‘Look, how beautiful the religion of Islam is. Do you like it?’ And when he sensed their opposition to it, he dismissively remarked that, ‘I was just testing you.’
This weakness was the result of the love of this world. Those who do not worship the world are not afraid to speak the truth and to proclaim it openly and God helps them.
It is essential for our Jama’at to learn the ways to invite people of every level in the most appropriate and suitable manner according to the need of the circumstances. Some have the knack of speaking so well that they can say all that needs to be said and cause no offense either. Some people appear to be evil and there seems to be no hope from them, yet they accept [the Message], while others look humble and one places great hope in them but they do not accept. It is, therefore, necessary to speak in a decisive, irrefutable manner with which victory is ultimately achieved.
There was fierce opposition in Delhi. Eventually, I said you have followed the doctrine of the life of Jesus for 1300 years and, as a result, many have left the Faith. Now you should try the idea of the death of Jesus and see the result. One person stood up and involuntarily said, ‘The truth is indeed what you have set forth.’
So decisive, irrefutable speech is a great bounty. How truly well has someone said [Punjabi]:
ایہو ہیگی کیمیا جو کوئی جانے بول ۔
Alchemy indeed is this alone that one should know how to speak!
Not everyone knows how to speak in this way. Therefore, think before you speak and say useful things concisely. Lengthy arguments are of no benefit. Say something brief sometime that should go straight into a person’s ear and then if the chance arises again, do so again.
In short, slow and steady delivery of the Message should continue and you should not tire of it, because these days, the love of Allah and a connection with Him is considered by people to be a sign of insanity. If the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sas), were to be present these days, people would call them insane and they would consider these people to be infidels. Spending day and night engrossed in vain discourses and all manner of heedlessness, preoccupied with worldly affairs makes one hard-hearted.
The spoken word takes time to have effect. I gave some advice to a person from Aligarh who was likely a Government Revenue Officer. He began making fun of me, but I said in my heart that I too will not leave you. I persisted and at last after ongoing talk, the time came when the same person who was laughing at my expense began to weep and wail. Sometimes a righteous person appears to be callous.
Remember that every lock has a key. And there is a key for speech as well, and that is to speak appropriately. Just as I said concerning medicines that some medicine is of benefit to someone and another is of benefit to someone else, similarly every statement can be of benefit to a specific person when said in a particular way. It should not be the case that one should talk in the same way with everyone. The speaker should not mind someone calling him bad, but rather keep discharging his duty without getting tired. The rich have very delicate dispositions and they are also apathetic to the world and cannot bear to listen to too many things. They should be admonished at some occasion in some way with great care and gentleness.3
1 It does not behove a Prophet that he should have captives until he engages in regular fighting in the land (Surah al-Anfal, 8:68). [Publisher]
2 The Promised Messiah (as) appears to be alluding to the Sultan of Turkey. [Publisher]
3 Badr, vol. 7, no. 6, p. 4–5, dated 13 February 1908