(Morning time)
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
The Holy Quran is like such food that is agreeable to people of all types and temperaments, and this is its proof of being from God. I wish that the people of my Jama’at should learn how to speak. Their style of speech should be such that it would be equally beneficial for the high and the low. The fact is that the excellence of speech lies in it being appropriate for people of every kind.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
God has made Islam a model for other people. Such a middle path has been adopted in it that is completely free from extremes.
وَ کَذٰلِکَ جَعَلْنٰکُمْ اُمَّۃً وَّسَطًا لِّتَکُوْنُوْا شُہَدَآءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ1
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
Replies are of two types. One confirmatory and the other accusatory. Allah the Exalted has also made use of accusatory replies in certain instances. These inform the critic of the weakness of his own religion. Thus, when the Christians claimed that Jesus (as) is the Son of God and its proof is that he was born of the Virgin Mary, Allah the Exalted replied by saying:
اِنَّ مَثَلَ عِیْسٰى عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ کَمَثَلِ اٰدَمَ2
Meaning that if this indeed was the proof of him being the Son [of God] then Adam (as) has the first right to be the Son [of God].
Declaring some groups to be Untouchables etc. is, in fact, a sign that the Hindu religion is so weak that it fears being defeated even with a mere touch. Since the foundation of Islam was strong, it did not include such teachings in religion. For example, it is said about eating:
لَیْسَ عَلَیْکُمْ جُنَاحٌ اَنْ تَاْکُلُوْا جَمِیْعًا اَوْ اَشْتَاتًا3
Unless there are elements of spirituality, righteousness, virtue, and true passion in a presentation, it does not bring about any good result. A presentation without piety and sincerity is like water from a gutter, which gushes forth regardless of occasion; and instead of cleaning, it soils those upon whom it falls. One should first mend his own ways and only then try to reform others. Allah the Exalted says:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا عَلَیْکُمْ اَنْفُسَکُمْ4
Meaning, ‘O believers! Worry about your own selves first.’
If you wish yourself to be of benefit to others, first become pious yourself. It should not be the case that there are just words, and nothing is evident in your practical lives. The example of such a person is like that of one who is sitting in extreme darkness. If the next person also brings darkness with him, what else can be expected to happen other than him falling on someone? He should go in the likeness of a lamp so that others could find light through him.
To exult on knowledge of material sciences is foolishness. Your strength should be of your spirit. God Almighty did not say that He taught science or philosophy or logic and provided assistance through them. He said rather that: اَیَّدَہُمْ بِرُوْحٍ مِّنْہُ5 That is, He assisted with His Spirit. The Companions (ra) were unlettered and so was their Prophet (Our Leader the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). And yet, great scholars could not imagine the wisdom imparted by them because they had special help from God.
Righteousness, piety, and purity provide help from within. These weapons of material sciences are weak weapons. It is possible—nay, highly probable—that the opponent has even stronger weapons. Therefore, the weapon needed ought to be such as the enemy cannot compete with. And that weapon is [bringing about] a real change, and the piety and purity of heart. How can one with a cataract, cure the cataract of another?
Even if the advice of one who possesses a pure nature is apparently rejected at the time, it does not go in vain. Rather, it leaves a hidden impact on the life of the person, as is said:
سخن کز دل برون آید نشیند لاجرم بر دل
What proceeds from the heart, undoubtedly penetrates hearts.
(At the time of Zuhr)
Laughter was under discussion. The Promised Messiah (as) said that if it falls within the decree of Allah the Exalted, there is no harm in it. Thus, He says: اَنَّہٗ ہُوَ اَضْحَکَ وَ اَبْکٰى6.
Shaving the beard was under discussion. The Promised Messiah (as) said:
What kind of silly objections people are occupied with! They look at the outer form. I am looking at their inner self. When a person’s heart becomes purified, these minor reformations take place on their own. If such matters are objected to at the outset, it becomes a trial for the person and he is deprived of many great things. Similar objections were raised against some Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sas) soon after they became Muslim. Allah the Exalted admonished against this.
When a person comes to embrace one truth, he is blessed with the ability to gradually accept the others as well. This is why commandments kept being revealed gradually. The prohibition of alcohol did not come down right away because people’s dispositions were not yet prepared for it. I do not entertain any hope that such vain critics will gain any benefit at all. Had they been present in the days of the Holy Prophet (sas), they would not have even desisted from criticizing him and would have eventually turned apostate. Every Prophet and his followers have faced such objections. Thus, some ignorant people even said:
مَالِ ہٰذَا الرَّسُوْلِ یَاْکُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَ یَمْشِیْ فِی الْاَسْوَاقِ7
Ta’am [طَعَام] means ‘fine, sumptuous, excellent food’. When people exceed all bounds in denial, these are the kinds of objections that occur to them.
Thereupon, one Jama’at member quoted an individual who said that if the proof for the truth of the Promised Messiah (as) was found in the Quran, he would not even accept that Quran, and that if God were to prove his truth through His Signs, he would not believe in that God.
[The Promised Messiah said:] ‘This accursed statement proves that hearts have become hardened to the extreme.’
A man who was a follower of Jesus (as), criticized him for letting a prostitute rub perfumed oil on him. He replied, ‘You wash my feet with water, but she does so with her tears. Allah esteems sincerity. Verily I tell you that such prostitutes will enter Paradise before the religious scholars and Pharisees of this age.’
He was, indeed, right in view of the condition of the scholars of that time.
A person inquired about a [religious] matter: ‘A cat has beheaded a chicken that is still convulsing. Is it permissible to slaughter that chicken?’
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
In such matters, remember it as a principle that, in religious matters, conjecture alone, is strictly prohibited. Only that conjecture is permissible which is deduced from the Holy Quran and Hadith. Our Faith has been transmitted to us by way of Traditions. Therefore, it is fine if some such hadith from the Holy Prophet (sas) is documented. Otherwise, why should one risk one’s faith for the sake of a few pennies?
وَ لَا تَقُوْلُوْا لِمَا تَصِفُ اَلْسِنَتُکُمُ الْکَذِبَ ہٰذَا حَلٰلٌ وَّ ہٰذَا حَرَامٌ 8
Someone asked about the expected earthquake. The Promised Messiah (as) said:
Read the book, Haqiqatul-Wahi 9 for Allah has abrogated some in its enforcement, as He said:
یُؤَخِّرُہُمْ إِلٰۤى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى
[God grants them respite till a specified term.]
Our God is the Omnipotent. He has full authority: یَمْحُوا اللّٰہُ مَا یَشَآءُ10 is our belief. He is not like a fortune teller. He issues an order in the morning and has the full authority to change it at night. The verse: مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ اٰیَۃٍ11 bears witness to it. After all, sadaqah [almsgiving] and istighfar [seeking forgiveness] do mean something. It is the unanimous consensus of all noble Prophets that sadaqah and istighfar ward off calamities. What is a calamity? It is an adverse painful event that has been decreed through the will of God Almighty. Now, when a Prophet informs of such a calamity, it becomes a prophecy, but Allah the Exalted is the Most Merciful of all who show mercy. He turns with His mercy towards those who supplicate with humility. Therefore, I do not believe that prophecies that contain a warning are irrevocable. On the contrary, they can be averted.
You see, where I have mentioned the earthquake, I have also drawn attention towards repentance, seeking forgiveness, supplications with humility, and almsgiving which implies that this grave calamity can be averted. Alas! People have advanced in my enmity to such an extent that they have even forgotten the principles of Islam. They read: مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیُعَذِّبَہُمْ وَ اَنْتَ فِیْہِمْؕ وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ مُعَذِّبَہُمْ وَ ہُمْ یَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ۠12 and still criticize me. May Allah guide them.13
1 And thus have We made you an exalted nation, that you may be guardians over men (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:144). [Publisher]
2 Surely, the case of Jesus with Allah is like the case of Adam (Surah Aal-e-‘Imran, 3:60). [Publisher]
3 There is no harm for you whether you eat together or separately (Surah an-Nur, 24:62). [Publisher]
4 Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:106 [Publisher]
5 Surah al-Mujadalah, 58:23 [Publisher]
6 It is He Who makes men laugh and makes them weep (Surah an-Najm, 53:44). [Publisher]
7 What is the matter with this Messenger that he eats food, and walks in the streets? (Surah al-Furqan, 25:8) [Publisher]
8 And say not—because of the falsehood which your tongues utter—‘This is lawful, and this is unlawful’ (Surah an-Nahl, 16:117). [Publisher]
9 Please see the reference text in Haqiqatul-Wahi, p. 281, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, p. 281; see also Haqiqatul-Wahi, p. 342, 2018 English edition. [Publisher]
10 Allah effaces what He wills (Surah ar-Ra’d, 13:40). [Publisher]
11 Whatever Sign We abrogate (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:107). [Publisher]
12 Allah would not punish them while you were among them and Allah would not punish them while they sought forgiveness (Surah al-Anfal, 8:34). [Publisher]
13 Badr, vol. 7, no. 19, p. 3–4, dated 24 May 1908