Ramadān - Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada

is worth fighting, so cultivatethe habit of forgiveness andoverlooking defaults, andbehave with steadfastnessand meekness. Do not attackanyone improperly, and keepyour passions under completecontrol. If you take part in adiscussion, or in an exchangeof views on a religious subject,express yourself gently and becourteous. If anyone misbehavestowards you, withdraw fromsuch company with a greetingof peace. If you are persecutedor reviled, be mindful that youshould not meet stupidity withstupidity, for otherwise youwill be counted in the samecategory as your opponents.God Almighty desires thatyou should become a Jamā`atthat should set an exampleof goodness and truthfulnessfor the whole world. Hastento exclude everyone fromyour company who sets anexample of evil, mischief,provocation and ill-behaviour.He who cannot dwell amongus in meekness, goodness andpiety, using gentle words andcomporting himself in ways ofgood conduct, should departfrom us quickly, for God doesnot desire that such a oneshould dwell among us. Hewill die miserably, for he didnot adopt the way of goodness.Therefore, be alert, and betruly good-hearted, gentle andrighteous. You will be knownby your regular attendance atPrayer services and your highmoral qualities. He who hasthe seed of evil embedded inhim will not be able to conformto this admonition. (Tablīghe-Risalāt, vol. 7, pg. 42–44. Ishtihar(The Announcement), May 29,1898, pg. 2)Introduction to Bai‘at - Part IIIKeep Away FromDishonestyAlmighty Allāh says aboutdishonesty in the Holy Qur’ān:And plead not on behalf ofthose who are dishonest tothemselves. Surely, Allāh lovesnot one who is perfidious and agreat sinner. (al-Nisa’, 4:108)According to a hadīth:Hadrat Abū Hurairah ra narratesthat the Holy Prophet sa said, ‘Ifsomeone gives you somethingfor safekeeping, return it tohim. Do not be dishonest withanyone, even if he has beendishonest with you.’ (SunanoAbi Dawud, Kitab-ul-Buyu‘, Babūfir-Rajuli ya’khudhu Haqqahu…)The Promised Messiah as says:Of the various forms ofdiscarding evil, the second isthe virtue known as honestyand integrity, which is theindisposition to harm anyoneby taking possession of hisproperty mischievously anddishonestly. It should be clearthat honesty and integrityconstitute a natural humancondition. That is why an infant,which is by nature simple andnaïve, and, because of youngage, has not yet acquired any badhabits, dislikes what belongs toothers so much so that it is withgreat difficulty that [he] allowsa strange woman to breastfeed[him]. (Islāmi Usul ki Philosophy,Rūhānī Khazāin, vol. 10, pg. 344)Keep Away From MischiefAlmighty Allāh says about mischiefin the Holy Qur’ān:‘And seek, in that which Allāhhas given thee, the Home of theHereafter; and neglect not thylot in this world; and do goodto others as Allāh has done goodto thee; and seek not to makemischief in the earth, verilyAllāh loves not those who makemischief. (al-Qasas, 28:78)Hadrat Mu‘adh Bin Jabal ra relatesthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Combat is of two types: Onethat is waged for the pleasureof Allāh under the leadershipof an Imam [divinely guidedleader]. A person engaged insuch combat spends his bestproperty in the way of Allāh,is comforting his companions,and avoids mischief. For sucha person, everything—hissleeping and waking time—earns merit in the sight ofAllāh. And there is another whoengages in combat for pride,ostentation, and to talk abouthis valour. He disobeys theImam and creates mischief inthe earth. Such a one can neverequal the first one in rank.’(Sunano Abi Dawud, Kitab-ul-Jihad, Babū fi man yaghzu wayaltamis-ud-Dunya)Hadrat Asma’ Bint Yazid ra narratesthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Should I inform you aboutthe best of people?’ TheCompanions ra said, ‘Certainly,tell us O Prophet of Allāh.’He said, ‘When they witnessa desirable scene, they startremembering Allāh.’ Then hesaid, ‘Should I tell you aboutthe worst of people? The worstpeople are those who go aboutbackbiting and creating discordbetween people. Their wishis that the obedient servantsof Allāh get involved in sin.’(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, vol.6, pg. 459, printed in Beirut)The Promised Messiah as says:Do not engage in fighting ordiscord with those who leaveyou because you have joineda Movement established by21