Third Point: It explains how misfortune transforms a short time into a long time.
THIRD POINT
As we have pointed out in one or two of the Words, whenever one thinks of his past life, he will say in his heart or with his tongue either “Ah!” or “Oh!” That is he will either experience regret, or say “Thanks and praise be to Allah.” Regret is inspired by the pains arising from the cessation of former pleasures and separation from them. For the cessation of pleasure is a pain in itself. Sometimes a momentary pleasure will cause everlasting pain. To think upon it will be like lancing a wound, causing regret to gush forth.
As for the lasting spiritual pleasure that comes from the cessation of momentary pains experienced in the past, it inspires man to exclaim, “Thanks and praise be to Allah!” In addition to this innate tendency of man, if he thinks of the reward that results from misfortune and the requital that awaits him in the Hereafter, if he realizes that his brief life will count as a long life because of misfortune-then instead of being merely patient he should be thankful. He should say, “Praise be to Allah for every state other than unbelief and misguidance.”
It is commonly said that misfortune is longlasting. Indeed it is, but not because it is troublesome and distressing as people customarily imagine, but rather because it yields vital results just like a long life.
- Fourth Point: The power of patient endurance is adequate to every misfortune unless it is scattered.
- The Second Flash: It is an interpretation of the verse of the Quran narrating the supplication of the Prophet Ayyub (Job), explaining the importance of patient endurance in the face of misfortunes and diseases.
- The Second Station of the Thirteenth Word: The grave, youth and some issues about prisoners and blood feud
- Fifth Point: It consists of three matters.
- First Station: It explains the glad tidings in kalima at-tawhid.
- Third Flash: It is an interpretation explaining that human spirit, which was created for everlastingness and is in love with everlastingness, will attain peace and happiness in both the world and eternal life if it knows its real duty toward Allah
- Third Stopping-Place: The point of views of the people of misguidance and the people of guidance on the worldly life.
- Second Matter: If physical misfortunes are seen to be large, they grow; if they are seen to be small, they shrink.
- Seeds of Reality are aphorisms from the booklet called Seeds of Reality, which was first published in 1920.
- Gleams: Flowers from the Seeds of Reality. A short ‘Mathnawi’ and collection on the subject of belief for the Risale-i Nur students.