THE TWENTIETH DISCOURSE On the saying of the prophet: “Leave anything that makes you doubtful and stick to what arouses no misgivings in you.”

There is a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Discard whatever creates any doubt with regard to lawfulness and unlawfulness of a thing in your mind and adopt what does not cause any doubt in you." When a doubtful thing becomes mixed up with a non-doubtful thing, adopt the course in which there is nothing of any doubt and suspicion and discard what causes any doubt. But when it is the case of a doubtful thing which is not free from hesitation and a consequent disturbance of mind such as is narrated in a tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) — "Sin creates disturbance in the heart" — wait in a case like this for the inner command. Then if you are commanded to adopt it, do as you like, but if you are forbidden, then refrain and let the thing be to you as if it had never been and never existed and turn towards the door of God and seek from your Lord your sustenance. If you feel exhausted with patience and concord and cheerful surrender and immersion (fcrna), remember that He, the Mighty and Glorious, does not stand in need of being reminded, and He is not forgetful of you and others besides you; He, the Mighty, the Glorious, feeds the unbelievers and the hypocrites and those who have turned away from His obedience. How is it possible that He would forget you, 0 you believer, who believe in His oneness, and persist in obedience to Him and are firm in carrying out His orders day and night? Another saying of the Holy Prophet, namely, "Discard what raises doubt in your mind and adopt what does not raise any," means that you should leave what is in the hands of people and not seek it and should not set your heart at it and not expect anything from people nor fear them and should receive from the favour of God, and this is what will not cause you any doubt, therefore, let there be only one from whom to ask and one giver and one purpose and this should be your Lord, the Mighty, the Glorious, in Whose hands lie the forehead of kings and hearts of people which are the kings of the bodies — that is to say, the hearts have control of the bodies — the bodies and the money of the people belong to Him, and the people are His agents and trustees, and when they give you anything the movement of their hands is by His permission and command and His motion, and the same is the case of any gift being withheld from you. God the Mighty says: Ask Allah of His grace. (4:32) He also says: Surely they whom you serve besides Allah control no sustenance for you; so seek sustenance from Allah and serve Him and be grateful to Him. (Qur'an, 29:17) He has also said: When My servants ask thee concerning Me, surely I am nigh. I answer the prayer of the suppliants when he calls on Me. (Qufan, 2:186) He says too: - Pray to Me, I will answer you. (Qur'an, 40:60) He also says: Surely Allah is the Bestower of sustenance, the Lord of Power, the Strong, (Qur'an, 51:58) Still further He says: Surely Allah, gives to whom He pleases without measure. (Qur'an, 3:36)