Documents of the Right Word

these great people. One should deem it as horrifying as a snake’s
bite to talk to him. Men of knowledge who do not fear Allah are
thieves of religion, regardless of the branch they belong to. Such
people also should be kept away from. All sorts of mischief that
have been undermining Islam, all the ferocious attacks directed
against the religion are the evils aroused by these people. In order
to obtain worldly advantages, they have assisted in the demolition
of the religion. The sixteenth âyat of Baqara Sûra purports, “They
have bought dalâlat (misguidance, aberration) by paying hidâyat
(guidance). They have earned nothing in this (business of) buying
and selling. They have not found the right way.” This âyat-i kerîma
describes these people. One day an exalted person saw the devil
sitting idly and happily without trying to deceive anyone, and
asked him why he was sitting idly instead of misleading people. His
answer was: “Today’s malicious men of religion are doing my job
very well; they have left no work for me to do to deceive people.”
Mawlânâ ’Umar, one of the disciples stationed there, is a good
person by creation. Only, he should be backed and supported so
that he can tell the truth. Also, Hâfid Imâm has committed all his
thoughts to the spreading of Islam. In fact, every Muslim has to be
so. It is stated in a hadîth-i-sherîf, “Unless a person is said to be
crazy, his îmân will not be perfect.” You know that I, the faqîr,
have been striving to explain the importance of talking with good
people in all my speeches and writings. Without becoming weary,
I keep saying time and again to avoid vicious company. For, these
two things form the basis of the matter. It is our business to give
advice and yours to take it. Or, rather, all the business belongs to
Allâhu ta’âlâ. How lucky for those people whom Allâhu ta’âlâ
employs as benefactors!
The greatness of the number of your generous kindnesses
causes us to write all these things and makes us oblivious to the
fact that we might give you a headache and boredom. Was-salâm.
TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIXTH
LETTER
This letter, written to his brother Shaikh Mawdûd, reminds that
the world is short-lived and that it might end in eternal torment:
My brother’s cherished letter has arrived here. It has made us
happy. My brother! May Allâhu ta’âlâ bless us and you with
successes! Life in this world is very short. Endless torments are its
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