In the Shariah, there are many subtle and fine matters that help develop the faculty of altruism. Altruism is a death that one has to accept for his ego. If a person notices that his ego feels pleasure in doing charity in public or giving alms or participating in financial sacrifice, and it engenders pretentiousness, he should put an end to his pretentiousness. Instead of spending openly, he should spend in charity in secret so much so that even his left [hand] should not know [what he is giving with his right hand]. Thereupon, it is quite possible that God, Who is Omnipotent, may forgive him due to his virtuous deed and pious change. It does not take a hundred years. It only requires sincerity.[1]
Look, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, used to serve halwa [a sweet dish] to an old and frail lady without fail. No one knew about it. One day, when the old lady did not receive her halwa, she became convinced that Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, had passed away. Just imagine the consistency with which he was serving the woman who could not eat anything else, that only one day’s interruption made her come to believe for certain that he had passed away. In other words, that old lady could not imagine that she would not receive the halwa if he was still alive. It was just not possible. So, this is sincerity and these are the deeds done solely for the sake of God with pure intentions. There is no sword quite like sincerity to win over hearts. Those people prevailed over the world through just such things. Nothing can be accomplished merely with talk. Now, there is no light shining from their forehead, no spirituality, nor any share of cognisance [of God]. God is not cruel. The fact of the matter is that there is no sincerity in their hearts.
ENDNOTES
[1]. From Badr: Do not think that you will be saved only by engaging in worship for a hundred years. On the contrary, God rewards even an iota of good and can forgive simply due to just one good act. What is needed is sincerity (Badr, vol. 7, no. 25, p. 7, dated 25 June 1908).
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Malfuzat – Volume III (Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 2022), 524-525.
Add Comment