Confessions Of A British Spy

the importance of this means. In fact, it would be similar to giving
a grain of sand in return for all worldly treasures. The importance
of this truth could not be explained through this writing of ours.
This writing of ours is intended to give some clues to the wise. A
single implication will suffice for a wise person to realise the
purport. I, therefore, shall make a few clue-bearing statements to
prime the pump for this realisation: Man forms a liking to his
settled tendencies. He does not want to cease from doing them.
When he is born, for instance, be gets used to sucking milk, and
hates to get weaned. As he grows, he becomes accustomed to his
home, to his quarter, to his hometown. It becomes very difficult
for him to part with them. Later on, he becomes wont to his shop,
to his profession, to his scientific branch, to his family, to his
language and religion, and hates to part with them. Thus various
communities, tribes, nations come into being. Then, a nation’s
love of their religion is not the result of a realization that their
religion is the best of religions. A wise person should study his
religion, compare it with other religions, find out what religion is
the true one and hold fast to it. For adherence to a wrong religion
will drift one to eternal disasters and everlasting torments. O
man, wake up from oblivion! If you say, “How do I know what
religion is the true one? I believe that the religion I am
accustomed to is the true one. I love this religion,” then you
should know that “Religion means to obey the commandments
and prohibitions which Allah has sent through Prophets.” These
injunctions are men’s duties to their Rabb (Allah) and to one
another.
Of all the existing religions, which one gives the most helpful
explanation of the Rabb’s Attributes, of worships, and of the
relations between creatures? Wisdom is a sense which
distinguishes between good and bad. What is bad should be
rejected and what is good should be studied. Studying a religion
means studying its beginning, its Prophet, his As-hâb
(companions) and Ummat (followers), especially the notable
ones. If you like them, choose that religion! Follow your mind, not
your nafs! Your nafs will mislead you by infusing feelings of
shame and fear into you pertaining to your family, your friends
and wicked and miscreant men of religion. The harms such people
may give you is a mere nothing when compared with everlasting
torment. A person who realizes this fact fully will choose the Dîni-islâm.
He will believe in Muhammad ‘alaihis-salâm’, who is the
last Prophet. Besides, Islam enjoins a belief in all Prophets. It
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