31 March 1908

(Before Zuhr Prayer)

The Need for Striving and Devotional Exercises

Pir Abdullah Shah, resident of Pind Sahib Khan, District Attock, is a respected deputy of Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golara, who also has been given the authority by Pir Sahib to accept the Pledge of Allegiance on his behalf. He had been visiting Qadian for the past two or three days.

He very respectfully addressed the Promised Messiah (as) today seeking the truth and to satisfy his heart and stated that: ‘The servants of God are accompanied by Divine Signs [in their support] and you, too, have been sent into the world during this age by Allah the Exalted as His Appointee and Messenger. Thousands of your Signs have already become manifest, but because I am a resident of a far-off land, and have not partaken from any of those Signs the way that the members of your present community have, it is my humble request, therefore, that a Sign may be shown that could satisfy my heart and cause an increase in my faith.’

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

The fact of the matter is that, on the basis of the teaching of the Holy Quran, I understand this issue as follows. On the one hand, Allah the Exalted outlines his attributes of benevolence, mercy, kindness, and favours, and describes Himself to be Rahman [Gracious]. And on the other hand, He says,

اَنْ لَّیْسَ لِلْاِنْسَانِ اِلَّا مَا سَعٰى 1

and,

وَ الَّذِیْنَ جَاہَدُوْا فِیْنَا لَنَہْدِیَنَّہُمْ سُبُلَنَا2

So here His blessings have been made contingent upon endeavouring and striving. Moreover, we also have the conduct of the Companions (ra) as a great and noble example for us. Look and ponder upon the lives of the Companions (ra). Did they attain those lofty ranks merely by offering the routine Prayers? Of course not! Quite the contrary, in order to attain the pleasure of God, they did not care even for their own lives; they sacrificed their lives in the way of God like sheep and goats. Only then were they able to attain that status. Most people, in my experience, are such that they expect to be granted those same lofty ranks instantaneously through some magical breath [of a mentor], thereby gaining access to the Heavenly Throne.

Who could there be who is greater than our Noble Messenger (sas)? He was the Best of Men and the Best of Messengers and Prophets. When he did not do those things with the blow of his breath, then who else could there be who could do so? Consider all the toil he undertook in the cave of Hira. Only God knows how long he spent in his supplications and entreaties. He endured all manner of toil and trouble for self-purification. Only then did the bounty from God Almighty descend upon him.

The crux of the matter is, indeed, that unless and until a person brings a death and a state of annihilation upon himself in the way of God, no concern is shown from the other side. However, when God sees that a person has put forth his utmost effort and has brought ‘death’ upon himself in order to find Him, then He manifests Himself upon him, and blesses him, and elevates him by the show of His might. Behold, it is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

وَ فَضَّلَ اللّٰہُ الْمُجٰہِدِیْنَ عَلَى الْقٰعِدِیْنَ اَجْرًا عَظِیْمًا3

That is, those who sit—meaning those who are lazy and people of an ordinary type—are not equal to those who endeavour and strive in the path of God. This is a matter of experience and the same has been witnessed for a long time.

There are two kinds of people in the world. One kind of people are those who are, unfortunately, taught that there are indeed such Auliya and Aqtab [titles for saintly people] in the world who, with just one focused glance, can make a person rise to the rank of sainthood and they thus acquire the knowledge of everything, even of the Divine Throne.

The second kind of people are those who ponder over the Holy Quran, and honestly and sincerely endeavour and strive in the path of God to find Him. It is indeed these people whose ardent and sorrowful endeavours and attempts are not allowed to go to waste. Ultimately, it is for these people—who beg at the threshold of God with perseverance, and knock upon it with devotion and sincerity—that the door is opened. They are thus, in the end, made owners and heirs to the treasures of Divine bounties on account of their devotion, sincerity, true anguish, and genuine angst.

Look, God is not in need of anything at all. What concern would He have as to who ends up in Hell or in Paradise? If one ends up in Hell, it does not cause any harm to God and it does not benefit Him if one goes to Paradise. God has absolutely no personal gain or loss in it. Allah the Exalted says:

اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنْ یُّتْرَکُوْۤا اَنْ یَّقُوْلُوْۤا اٰمَنَّا وَ ہُمْ لَا یُفْتَنُوْنَ4

Meaning that: ‘Do people think that God is satisfied by mere verbal declaration of faith by them even though their declaration has not yet been put to test to see whether they are indeed believers or not, and the truth or falsehood of their assertion has not yet become evident?’

Thus, the true and confirmed reality is that first one has to bring about thousands of deaths upon himself through adopting sincerity, devotion, and anguish. Only then does Allah show mercy and take a glance in his direction. Those who think that they will become a saint by some magical trick, and that they will become masters of heavenly treasures just through the blow of a breath, always remain deprived.

Once a man came to me and said that he was only looking for such a perfect man who could make him a saint instantaneously just by focusing on him once. I tried very hard to make him understand, but when he was not dissuaded, I told him to go searching to see if he could find any such spiritual guide or saint. After a long time, I met him again. He was in bad shape, as the saying goes, ‘Terrible condition, miserable days.’ I asked him if he had found the man he was searching for who could do all those things with the blow of a single breath. He was left speechless and could make no reply.

According to my belief, neither Allah the Exalted nor even His Prophet—rather, no one—has taught this approach. Consider how much effort was made by the Companions (ra). One who is doomed to waste his life cannot benefit from the Book of God [the Holy Quran]. You may read the Holy Quran and see for yourself. You will not find this mentioned anywhere in it that God Almighty can be pleased with someone who ignores and neglects what God has defined to be the paths of His pleasure. God is only pleased when the paths of His pleasure as defined by Him are followed. He has clearly taught us the prayer, اِہْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ5.

Look, a mortal rewards another mortal upon becoming pleased with him. So won’t God come to love those who walk the paths of His pleasure in pursuit of Him? However, one needs to have the capacity to receive His blessings. How can mercy be shown to an infected boil that is filled with pus and foul matter?

You see, the Companions (ra) fulfilled their obligation with regards to obedience and seeking God’s pleasure. They are an excellent model and a sublime example. Look how they sacrificed their lives to prove this; they proved their utmost obedience and caused rivers of blood to flow. Then, see how He too became well pleased with their condition.

All the holy men and saints that have passed, spent their time in striving and endeavouring. Look, Baba Farid and indeed all the other Auliya and Abdal [terms for saints] reached these ranks by doing special spiritual exercises and hard spiritual labour for a significant period of time. They followed the example of the Holy Prophet (sas) very stringently and comprehensively. Only then did their pride, false sense of fame, and misplaced arrogance depart from them. It is as if they passed through the eye of a needle. Such people must always pass through it. Only then do they come to be bestowed the ranks that they are. It is these people whose prayers find acceptance. Just as a physician’s medicine does not work unless due precautions are observed, the same is the secret of acceptance of supplication. Supplications cannot produce any effect unless one is fully and perfectly pious, restrained.

People have concocted some false tales about some of the saints. Those false stories also become a very heavy obstacle and barrier for people, and cause many to stumble. Look, there is one such concocted tale with regard to Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, may Allah be pleased with him, that he transformed a thief who came in front of him into a great saint with just with one breath.

Remember it well! No one has reached any special and lofty rank without bringing a ‘death’ upon his own self and without fully following the Sunnah [practice of the Holy Prophet (sas)].

Blessings Correspond to Capacity

However, it is also true that without the capacity for it, nothing can be achieved. Some people, by their very nature and aptitude, have been fashioned in such a way by Allah the Exalted and are endowed with such ability that base morals like arrogance, pride, conceit, ego, etc. depart from them quite readily. They become as if they are nothing and lifeless. Just as a seed mingles into the earth and becomes dust and then God makes it grow with His power, similarly, those people first lose all they have in the path of Allah. It is then that God brings them again back to life, and makes them grow and prosper, and enlarges their acceptance in the hearts of people.

Thus, one who endures all the tribulations which come from Allah the Exalted from time to time by way of trial, and does not set any specific limitations or conditions of his own, but leaves everything to God, such a one is shown by God, through His grace, all that is required to make his faith strong and robust, and he attains peace of mind. On the other hand, those who show obstinacy and wish to make God move according to their intentions, they are left deprived. And what does God care for such people! God is not in need of anybody. He has tens of millions subservient to Him. If one does not believe, so be it. He, too, is thrown in the group destined for Hell.

In showing a Sign, God Almighty is not subservient to the whims and desires of man. Bounties are contingent upon one’s capacity. (مصفا قطره باید که تا گوهر شود پیدا) [‘A pure drop is needed to create a gem’]. A defective seed, even properly sown in the earth, will not grow and will not bear fruit. Similarly, the wretched ones who have been indicted for villainy, cannot be heirs to the bounties and Signs of God. Who can be better than the Holy Prophet (sas)? Study the entire Holy Quran carefully and satisfy yourself that it is only by following the means that Allah the Exalted has established for attaining the blessings that one can attain them. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to inherit the blessing of God by deviating from them.

Allah the Exalted says, فَمِنْہُمْ شَقِیٌّ وَّ سَعِیْدٌ6 that is, people, insofar as their capacities are concerned, are of two kinds. One is that group of people who have the ability to gather the provisions and perform the deeds that can absorb the lights of Divine bounties and blessings. They are called sa‘eed [fortunate]. The others are those whose evil deeds and depraved nature become an obstacle in their progress and make them removed and cut off from virtuous deeds, Divine bounties, and blessings.

Behold, even now, a downpour of heavenly support and Signs is transpiring with great force, and a flood of progress is taking place. However, only those can enter it who have some share of good fortune in their souls. Villainous and unfortunate people, despite witnessing thousands of Signs, remain deprived of the blessing and the acceptance of the truth by entertaining satanic doubts even about them. This, indeed, is also the will of God that this distinction be maintained till the Day of Judgement—that some become fortunate due to their good fortune and capacity, and some become villainous because of their evil bent of mind. Thus, if it is the will of God Almighty that someone should be kept out of our Community, how can we guide him?

Signs Are in the Hand of God

Look! Seeking the attention of God for some specific individual neither meets with the approval of God nor do His Messengers insist that some specific individual be guided. Rather, their supplications and anguish are for humanity at large. You see, miracles were similarly demanded from the Most Honoured Messenger (sas) but what reply did Allah the Exalted give?

وَ قَالُوْا لَوْ لَا نُزِّلَ عَلَیْہِ اٰیَۃٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّہٖ7 قُلْ اِنَّمَا الْاٰیٰتُ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ8

Allah the Exalted has forbidden iqtirah [peremptory demand]. And experience shows that those who demand [a Sign], indeed always remain deprived of guidance because God is neither subservient to their whims and wishes, nor do they attain guidance. So look! Whenever Signs and miracles were asked for by way of a demand, they received the same reply:

قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّیْ ہَلْ کُنْتُ اِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُوْلًا9

Even now there exist thousands of Signs of God Almighty—too numerous to count. They are recorded in detail in my books. They should be examined to see whether they possess the awe of Divine glory and majesty and thus deserve to be accepted or they can possibly be attributed to a human being. Neither the Holy Quran nor the lives of any of the previous Prophets justify anyone demanding specific signs for his satisfaction and conviction, because he is not satisfied and convinced with the Signs already provided by God Almighty by His own will and pleasure. Therefore, why am I asked a question which is beyond the precept of prophethood? It is not permissible at all. Just look at how those in the past who made demands and asked for miracles were dealt with. The same is applicable today.

I have not laid claim to Divinity. Signs are in the hand of God. He may show whenever and whatever kind He likes at His discretion. He is not bound and subservient to the wishes of anyone. I cannot see such a person ever succeeding. That same Holy Quran exists today. See what it says [about this point]. God has never been constrained, nor does He do this sort of thing out of being coerced. On the contrary, He can and does show Signs a thousand times greater than the expectations of those who demand them, but He does so when He pleases. He is not concerned with any specific person that if he, indeed, were to attain guidance, only then would His enterprise succeed.

You, too, are a Muslim. Have you found this kind of a narrative in the Holy Quran that someone requested a miracle as a demand and was shown one as well? It can never be shown that someone asked for it in this fashion and then received it. Thus, if this cannot be demonstrated, then it is audacious and disrespectful in a way, and a Muslim should refrain from it.

My response is the same as that of the Holy Prophet (sas) when a sign was demanded of him, that the Signs are with God and He can show whatsoever He desires whensoever He desires. It is not for me to show signs. Thousands of Signs that have been shown by God are already on record. They all have one feature in common—they are not in response to a specific demand of anyone. Rather, they all have been shown by God of His own will and pleasure.

I doubt the very faith in Islam of a person who, being a Muslim, yet poses any question that is beyond the Holy Quran and the practice of the Messenger (sas). If a man has even a slight share of good fortune and rectitude and the thirst and true eagerness for seeking the truth is present in him, then why would he not reflect upon the Divine Signs and why would he not accept them? Have those Signs become stale that they do not value them and they say that they should be given what they demand?

Be warned! It is grave impertinence and disrespect. God is not in need of anybody. What does He care for anyone? It does not harm Him at all even if the entire world were to turn away from Him. He will never act subservient to, nor constrained by, the wishes of anyone.

The Need to Supplicate for Satisfaction

After Zuhr Prayer, the Promised Messiah (as) called the aforementioned Pir Sahib again and addressed him with extremely gentle, kind, and loving words as follows:

The truth is that sometimes the condition of the heart of a person is clean and if God, who knows the condition of hearts, desires to lead him to guidance, He then instils special motivation and attention in the heart of His appointees for that individual and directs the attention of His appointee towards him through subtle revelation. However, this only happens when God Almighty knows the state of righteousness and true earnestness of the seeker. Thereby, it is understood that the query of the seeker has become acceptable for Divine attention. Therefore, you should pray to God Almighty for this matter and make use of repentance and seeking forgiveness [from God]. It is quite possible that, because of your prayers, God Almighty may arrange such things that will provide the means for your satisfaction. There is no other recourse, as He is in need of no one whereas man is in need of Him every single moment and dependant upon His help alone.

The Promised Messiah (as) left after this.10