Re: Paak Seerat Hadhrat Masih e Maood (A.S)
Very few selected sayings/writings of Hadhrat Masih e Maood (A.S)
Istighfar: Strength for soul and steadfastness for heart
It should be remembered that the Umma (the Muslims) have been granted two things. One, to achieve strength and two, to display that strength. Istighfar is meant to get strength; in other words it is seeking after help. Sufis say that just as taking exercise with the help of some heavy things (called Mugdars and Mogris) gives strength to the body so is the case with Istighfar i.e. it gives strength to the soul and also grants steadfastness to the heart. Whoever wishes to get strength should do Istighfar (ask for forgiveness) Ghafar actually means to cover or to suppress. Istighfar helps to cover and suppress the feelings and the thoughts which try to take the man away from God. Thus Istighfar means to overpower the poisonous matter that attacks man to undo him, and by removing the checks and hurdles in the way of obeying the commands of Allah, to act upon those commands in a practical manner.
This also sh! ould be remembered that there are two kinds of matters. One, the poison which is handled by the Satan and, two, the elixir. When a man shows pride and thinks that he is somebody to be reckoned with and does not seek help from the elixir, the poison overpowers him. But when he humbles himself and realises that he is nobody and very low and thus feels the need of the help of God then Allah really produces a fountain through which his soul begins to flow. This is what Istighfar means i.e. to overpower the poisonous matter with the power received from God.
(Malfoozat vol. 2, pg. 67-68)
**Avoid luxuries**
God the Almighty says: the heretics indeed are the people who are pleased to have the gains of this world and they are contented with them that they do not feel the urge to make a move towards God. The verse 'fala noqeemo lahum yaumal qiyamati wazna', does not mention sin because these are the people who gave all the preference to the worldly desires. At another place God the Almighty says: these people have got the full enjoyment of this world; there also it is not the sin that has been mentioned rather it is pleasure of this world which ordinarily are made lawful by God. These people who have been called heretics got themselves engrossed in the acquisition of these pleasures. This type of people will have no worth in the eyes of God Almighty nor will they be honoured. A luxurious life is indeed a Satan which decimes a man. So far as the behaviour is concerned he himself runs after the hardships. Were he to make compromises he would live a life of c! omforts. If the Holy Prophet (sallallaho alaihi wa sallam) had done this there would have been no need for him to go to (through hardships of) battlefields but he gave preference to religion over the worldly affairs and therefore all the people turned into his enemies.
(Malfoozat vol. 7, pg 108)
Rewards for troubles
The people who pass through hardships (which are not of their own making) or who are troubled for the sake of God, will be amply rewarded by Him in the next world. So far as this world is concerned it is a transitory place; people have not to live here for all the time. If somebody has means available to him which are a source of pleasure for him, it is really nothing for him to feel exalted. Whatever is there in this world - means of comfort or hardships - are to come to an end thereafter there is a life which is eternal. Those who look at some insignificant differences in the constitutions of human life and link it with the sins and shortcomings of another previous life are very much mistaken. They do not try to think over another birth which is linked with the next world where the people who have some defects here or who have put themselves to hardships for the sake of God will be amply rewarded. This world is the place of sowing the seed an! d to avail the opportunity of attaining to the pleasure of God.
(Malfoozat vol. 7, pg. 93)
**Danger of minor sins**
This indeed is a different situation. Major and easily visible evil can be got rid of with no difficulty. As for the minor ones - and those which are not easily visible - are hard to leave; one of the reasons being that one cannot easily discern and locate them. This situation can be compared with the Typhoid which though a serious malady can be treated whereas Tuberculosis which eats up a man from within, is hard to treat. Same is the case with inconspicuous evils which do not let a man perform commendable deeds. These evil deeds are related to the morals and conduct and come to the surface through mutual contacts; with very minor differences love; rancour, jealousy, false show and pride spring up in the heart and one begins to belittle one's brother. If a man prays merely for a few days and the people praise him for that he begins to make a show of it and the real aim of the prayer - sincerity - vanishes. If God has given him wealth, or knowle! dge or his family is prestigious, he takes his brother, who does not possess these things as low and wretched. He is very desirous of picking holes in the life of his brother.
So far as pride is concerned, it takes different shapes. Somebody displays one type of pride and another person displays another type of pride. The learned people are proud of their knowledge and criticise others in this respect to pull down these brothers. They continue looking for their faults and shortcomings day and night.
(Malfoozat vol. 7, pg. 273)
Pure, inside and out
Be kind and merciful to humanity, for all are His creatures: Do not oppress them with your tongue, or hands, or in any other way. Always work for the good of mankind. Never unduly assert yourselves with pride over others, even those who are placed under you. Never use abusive language for anyone, even though he abuses you. Be humble in spirit, kind and gentle, and forgiving, sympathetic towards all and wishing them well, so that you should be accepted. There are many who pretend to be kind, gentle and forgiving, but inside they are wolves; there are many on the outside who look pure, but in their hearts they are serpents. You cannot be accepted in the presence of the Lord unless you are pure, both on the outside and inside.
Kashti Nooh