Fifth Point
This concerns five small matters.
The First
The Worldly Ask Me: Why don’t you practise the principles of our civilization, our style of life, and our manner of dressing? Does this mean you oppose us?
My Reply: Sirs! What right do you have to propose to me the principles of your civilization? For as though casting me outside the laws of civilization, you have wrongfully forced me to reside in a village for five years and prohibited me from having any social relations or communication. You left all the exiles in the town with their friends and relatives, then gave them the papers granting them an amnesty, but without reason you isolated me and did not allow me to meet with anyone from my native region, except for one or two. That means you do not count me as a member of this nation or a citizen. How can you propose that I apply your civil code to myself? You have turned the world into a prison for me. Such things cannot be proposed to someone in prison. You closed the door of the world on me, so I knocked on the door of the hereafter and divine mercy opened it to me. How can the confused customs and principles of the world be dictated to someone at the door of the hereafter? Whenever you set me free and return me to my native region and restore my rights, then you can require me to conform to your principles.
Second Matter
The Worldly Say: “We have an official department for instructing in the precepts of religion and truths of Islam. On what authority do you publish religious works? Since you are a convicted exile, you have no right to meddle in these matters.”
The Answer: Truth and reality cannot be restricted. How can belief and the Qur’an be restricted? You can restrict the principles and laws of your world, but the truths of belief and Qur’anic principles cannot be forced into the form of worldly dealings or be given an official guise in return for a wage. Those mysteries, which are divine gifts, those blessings, come rather through a sincere intention and giving up the world and carnal pleasures. Moreover, that official department of yours accepted me and appointed me as a preacher while I was in my home region. I accepted the position, but rejected the salary. I have the document in my possession. With it I can act as an imam and preacher everywhere, because my being exiled was unjust. Also, since the exiles have been returned, my old documents are still valid.
Secondly: I addressed the truths of belief I have written directly at my own soul. I do not invite everyone. Rather, those whose spirits are needy and hearts wounded search out and find those Qur’anic remedies. Only, to secure my livelihood I had printed a treatise of mine about the resurrection of the dead before the new script was introduced. And the former governor, who was unfair to me, studied the treatise, but did nothing against it since he could find nothing in it to criticize.
Third Matter
Some of my friends remain apparently aloof from me because the worldly look on me with suspicion and in order to curry favour with the worldly, indeed, they criticize me. But the cunning worldly attribute their aloofness and avoiding me not to their loyalty to the worldly but to a sort of hypocrisy and lack of conscience, and they look on those friends of mine coldly.
So I Say This: O my friends of the hereafter! Don’t hold back from me as a servant of the Qur’an and run away. If Allah so wills, no harm will come to you from me. Suppose some calamity is visited on you or I am oppressed, you still cannot be saved by avoiding me. By doing that you will make yourselves more deserving of being visited by a calamity and receiving a blow. And what is there, that you should have these groundless fears?
Fourth Matter
I see during this time of exile that certain boastful people who have fallen into the swamp of politics regard me in a partisan manner, with rivalry, as though I were connected with the worldly movements like they are.
Sirs! I am in the current of belief. Before me is the current of unbelief. I have no connection with other currents or movements. Perhaps some of those who work for a wage consider themselves excused to a degree. But to assume a stance opposing me in rivalry in the name of patriotism for no wage, and to harass me and oppress me, is truly a grievous error. For as was proved above, I have no connection at all with world politics. I have dedicated all my time and my life to the truths of belief and the Qur’an. Since it is thus, the person who torments and harasses me in rivalry should realize that to do so is like harming belief in the name of atheism and unbelief.
Fifth Matter
Since this world is transitory, and life is short, and one’s essential duties are many, and eternal life is gained here; and since this guesthouse of the world is not without an owner, indeed, has a most wise and generous director, and neither good nor bad will remain without recompense; and since according to the verse, On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear there is no obligation that is insupportable, and a safe way is preferable to a harmful one, and since friends and ranks last only till the door of the grave;
Then surely the most fortunate person is the one who does not forget the hereafter for this world, nor sacrifice the hereafter for this world, nor destroy the life of the hereafter for worldly life, nor waste his life on trivial things, but considers himself to be a guest and acts in accordance with the commands of the guesthouse’s Owner, then opens the door of the grave in confidence and enters upon eternal happiness.