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When we mention religion, we tend to think
of two styles of thought. Those belonging to one of these schools of thought
are a rare group, while those belonging to the second school of thought are in
the majority. Both of these groups claim that they have received a divine
blessing. Those belonging to one of these styles of thought are hard on their
own souls but kind and affectionate to others. Those belonging to the other
group are so far removed from the common people that it seems as if they have
drifted away from the natural and instinctive needs and are treading a most
incorrect path. One of these groups is emotionally volatile and easily
influenced by outside factors, while individuals of the other group love a life
of morality and action. Both say that their trust is in Allah and whatever they
do, they do it for the sake of Allah. But the individuals of one of the two
groups always remain in the clutches of fear and grief. Whatever the members of
that group do, they say that it is for the alleviation of fear and grief, but
as practical life in the form of religion surrounds them, they become more and
more entangled in the trap of fear, terror, and doubt. All their emotions turn
cold, and when an emotion gains intensity, each individual harboring that
emotion wants to see every other individual suffer at the hands of fear and
grief, just as he suffers. [For that group] the foundation of every act worship
and spiritual exercise is that the act will free one from fear. As to when this
freedom will be attained— that is a question regarding which no evidence based
on certainty is available to them. And without
solid evidence man lose personality.
Once, a place became flooded. The entire
area sank under water except for a small hill that remained above water level.
People, and many animals from the jungle, as well as blip and insects, came to
seek refuge on that hill. A lion came, swimming toward the hill; panting like a
dog he sat down among the people. He was so fearful that he had lost awareness
of his surroundings. A man, very calmly, got up with his rifle and shot the
lion in the head. Under the emotion of fear, the lion had forgotten his beastly
qualities, and the emotion of fear had made him more cowardly than a goat.
When we mention the emotions that come into
play in life, we see that along with circumstances and incidents, emotions also
are subject to change. If an atmosphere of fear and terror is created, people
live a life of fear. Contrary to this, if the atmosphere is that of courage and
bravery, people do not become cowards. Similarly, if the environment contain
elements of laziness, idleness, and indifference, most people living in such an
environment become lazy and slothful. And if laziness and indolence are removed
from the environment, to the same degree people become active and, employing
their will power, they accomplish great feats.
An example: There is a comfort-loving woman
who does not want to suffer any inconvenience. She habitually sleeps in. Shy
turns away from any place she fears she might face difficulty or worry. But
within the same woman, a revolution occurs, as she becomes a mother. As
maternal instincts envelop het, she stays awake at nights. Without excuses or
complaints, shy brings up her child and educates and trains him, overlooking
any thought of hardship and discomfort. Quite on the contrary, the discomfort
she suffers due to the child further deepens her sense of action. Personally,
she may be miserly, thoughtless and selfish but, for the child, she always
makes sacrifices.
Those who are nut free from a life of fear
always remain under the attack of selfish and carnal emotions. These carnal
emotions turn them into their subjects. Narcissism and carnal feelings
eventually make them listless and inert, and when they enter that period of
life where these emotions cool down naturally, they are left suspended in an
unending state of boredom and annoyance. To fight this condition, they employ
such means as only cause pain and suffering to others. For instance, when they
want to invite another person towards goodness, they say out loud without
hesitation: 'You do not perform acts of goodness.' That is, they intend to say:
'We are righteous.' Some matters demand understanding, thought and reflection.
If they are unable to make such matters clear to the other person, they start
to express anger and hatred. And this style of thought makes such a deep
imprint upon them that their faces become distorted and devoid of spirituality.
And, on their faces, one can see an agonizing film being played out.
The other group is one that does not have
fear in its style of thought. Whatever it does or whatever actions are
committed by it are not based on the fear of hell. The goal of life of such
people is the friendly communication with their Lord, and happily submitting to
their Creator, and giving themselves up to Him. They are relieved of all types
of fear and doubt and a state of peacefulness infused with obedience takes
charge of their personality. They deny themselves the desire for popularity,
honour or power. They refrain from engaging in untruthfulness and acts of
hypocrisy. They do not deceive anyone by their words and actions. They treat
each other with complete honesty. They tell the truth without fear, as they see
it. They do not accept the doubts, weaknesses and uncertainties, arising in
people's hearts. They remain serious, and speak of matters soberly. And they
advise their human brothers and sisters to live their lives in a serious way as
well. Also, they do not display false humility or exhibit their
Educational prowess. Pride and
pretentiousness keep away from them.
By correcting one's center of emotions, cleanliness and purity
is developed within a person to such a great degree that he is freed from spiritual illnesses and disharmony
of life. His heart becomes purified of carnal temptation and indecent thoughts.
He is freed from the impurities of the world. Such person adopts an attitude of
love and kindness towards all his brothers and sisters and all of Allah's
creatures. He loves his enemy and interacts with kindness and benevolence
toward& even those whose outward appearance may be repulsive. If the center
of emotions is not corrected, man becomes an active member of [the life of]
harshness, discord, hypocrisy, short sightedness, pride and contemptuousness,
greed, and An inferiority or a superiority complex—he becomes someone whom
Satan recruits among the progeny of Iblis ['the being. who disobeyed Allah and
seeks to send humanity toward heir] and employs him for his own missions.
KHWAJA SHAMS-UD-DEEN AZEEMI
Science has made immense progress, yet many believe that, even with all of the modern tools at our disposal, human beings function at no more than 10% of their mental capacity. This leads to the question of what exactly it is that comprises the remaining 90%. Yet another question that arises is this: If it has taken man four and a half billion years to be able to apply only 10% of his ability, how long will it take for him to make use of the remaining 90%?