#given by his followers to feel some morsel of devotion and care

[recitedemise]

𝐀𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. He can tell you he's become the deity for daring and ambition, but for those that knew him, he's become more a vessel of poor self worth. As a mortal, Gale has wrestled for ages with both the value and the weight of all his qualities. He'd always thought himself singular, loved solely for his magic and his knack at spellcraft; however, in every realm that'd lie beyond all things wizardy, Gale, who he was, proved plainly irrelevant. He was valued for his skills. He was largely desired for his brilliance alone. In youth, he'd not many friends, a smart, rambly boy many treated quite coldly, a boy that leant on humor to deflect their bouts of venom -- a boy, as it were, that wasn't much liked. He'd be asked for help, of course, or 1:1 lessons if he'd the time to spare, but to play after class or to go to the park? Never. In fact, that was why he'd summoned Tara early on.

As an adult, this feeling, unfortunately, had paled in no way to only impossibly grow. Mystra choosing him, naturally, had all but propelled it to maddening heights. Abandoned, he fears his magic not enough, now left tempered, pale, and with a fraction of his strength. It makes him eager to please, to pursue even greater, grander acts to earn some approval, and his desiring godhood is a result of that. As a god, your worries, your battles, will all be his. He will triumph them all. He will take them in his palms and whisk you to safety. He can save you in a way his goddess denied him of, and then, surely then, will you think worthy...of time, your care, or your better opinion.

Yet, there in the astral plane, it'd be just him, his thoughts, and a small, empty boat amidst a sea of stars. He'd have no one to share with it despite his gaggle of followers that would love him blindly. They'd love him for his godliness, his ambition, his magic, and all those things he could offer for faith, but who he was and his now lost-heart... Starved, he'd cling to those prayers at his altars to feel partly loved.

[pangtasias-atelier]

How about a drabble of a Lion Boy Dimitri being fed by the rest of the BL boys? I feel like that would be adorable and chaotic to witness.

Group interaction is always one of my favorite things lol. Hope you enjoy!

____________

Pouting, Dimitri rubs his gut. Engorged on food, the soft doughy mass is instead rounder in shape, his gut firmer. Bright red stretch marks lining the lower perimeters of it, older pinker ones frame it as well. Huffing, Dimitri closes his eyes as he massages it. Letting out a small burp, his tail flicks behind him. The animalistic attribute not affected by his own overeating tendencies, the small width of it would be barely noticeable if not for the strangeness of it. Tail that of a lion’s, the thin furry appendage is thinner than Dimitri’s own sausage fingers. Ending in a small tuft of blonde fur, Dimitri sports small lion ears as well. Leaning into his chair, his ears flick as he lets out small sighs of contentment. His shoulder length hair framing his face, his plump cherubic cheeks only seem larger, Dimitri’s small huffs furthering the effect. His moobs press against his ill-fitting blue shirt, the edge of it only reaching a small portion past them. His doughy arms around them to reach his gut, he pushes them together, the adipose squishing together. His soft thighs wedged into his chair, they coalesce as he simply sits still, both pressed firmly together.

“Sorry for the wait!” Ashe barging into the room, Dimitri’s eyes shoot open, his ears sensitive. “Oh, sorry about that,” Ashe hunces slightly. “But I brought the fish you asked for,” Pushing the cart in, Ashe beams. 

Dimitri having already forgotten about his request after his dinner and desert, he opens his mouth. A growl from his stomach making noise instead, he blushes, squirming in his chair. The salty char of the fish wafting to his nose, Dimitr’s ears flick, his attention grabbed. “I suppose I’ll have one more,” 

One more the magic words to his own descent into overeating and gluttony, those had been the beginning, one more plate becoming two more plates before extra snacks were added throughout the day before even entire meals. His own greedy nature for food not entirely his own fault, Dimitri has four others to blame. Namely the other men from when they were in the Blue Lions. Dedue a given considering the two’s close bond, Dedue made sure of Dimitri’s own comfort. Fluffing a pillow, bringing him extra blankets, a belly rub, helping him unbutton straining clothing, Dedue was always there with a smile, always rubbing Dimitri’s tail or ears. Ashe was nearly the same. Dedue focusing on pampering through comfort, Ashe focused on pampering him through food. Dedue helping out and cooking for Dimitri, the volume and speed that Ashe cooked at was uncomparable. Always some new dish for Dimitri to try, Dimitri was always happy to oblige. More unexpected had been Sylvain, his enamorment with Dimitri coming out of the blue when he suddenly gave him a belly rub. Though he simply enjoyed cuddling and hugging all of Dimitri’s fat for his own enjoyment. Felix the largest shock to all, his adamant refusal to even caring had thankfully diminished as time went on, only spiking when strangers inquired about him. He merely took to bringing food to Dimitri, an aspect that Dimitri found important, always near hungry now.

Squirming in his creaking chair, Dimitri purrs as Ashe helps him sit up a bit more, Dimitri huffing from the exertion. Gut resting heavily in his lap, Dimitri places both hands on it as he opens his mouth. Ashe cutting a portion off, he goes to feed Dimitri, Dimtri closing his eyes. The tasty morsel right in front of him, Dimitri jumps up once more as another person comes in.

“I brought you your salmon, your highness,” Dedue announces himself,bringing only a plate to Ashe’s whole cart.

“He asked for trout,” Sylvain joining in, he only carries in a single plate.

“He kept whining for mackerel,” Felix barging in, he stares at the rest who in turn stare back at him. “I brought some to shut him up,” 

“I was here first,” Resuming, Ashe brings the bite of cod to Dimitri’s mouth. 

Blushing, Dimitri squirms in his chair as everyone’s gaze focuses on him. Tail flopping to the side, Dimitri opens his mouth. Mouth salivating, he chomps down on the fork, devouring the piece of cod with only a couple bites. 

A looming presence over him, Ashe looks up. Dedue stands behind him. 

“Let’s move him to his bed,” Reaching for Dimitri, Dedue smiles as Ashe follows along. 

“He needs to eat first!” Not waiting for a response, Sylvain brings a piece of salmon to Dimitri’s mouth, Dimitri greedily eating that as well. Felix stands to the side, staring as Dimitri huffs, rubbing his gut. 

“He should be comfortable, Sylvain,” Ashe pouts, struggling to extricate Dimitri from his chair, the armrests digging into his stomach. Dimitri’s love handles pour over the armrests. “Felix, help,”

Felix scoffs but does as he’s asked, standing by Ashe. Placing his foot on the legs of the chair, he helps pull Dimitri. Dimitri whimpering, he groans as his fat is pinched, the chair not letting go of him.Sylvain watches the entire time, devoting to remember the scene as all three struggle to pull Dimitri. 

Eventually dislodging him, Dedue catches Dimitri. Face red, Dimitri’s tail hangs between his legs, barely enough space for it now. With Dedue’s assistance, he waddles to his bed. A mountain of pillows already prepared, he sighs as he rests against them, snuggling and purring.

“Open wide,” Without waiting for any down time, Ashe already has Dimitri’s next bite prepared. 

“No way,” Sylvain blocks him. He pushes him out of the way with his hip. Dimitri’s face falls, the expected fish not coming.  “I get to feed him first,”

“No fair, I was here first,” 

“Doesn’t matter,”

“Yes it does, plus, he likes it better when I feed him,”

Dedue clears his throat. “We will take turns-”

“Who made you the leader?” Felix attacks, staring at Dedue.

“I am his highness’-”

“You’re all high and mighty now that-” Felix himself interrupted, all four turn towards Dimitri as he whines.

“So hungry…,” Rubbing his stomach, Dimitri opens his mouth, his tail swishing to the side of his own expanse.

“We will take turns, is that understood?” Dedue commands, suddenly serious with Dimitri’s complaint. 

“Yes!”

“Got it,”

“Whatever,”

Everyone else assenting, they form an orderly line. Dimitri cowers under their immediate shift in attitude, all four of them serious about feeding him. His tail begins to wag, mind excited from being pampered and waited on, Dimitri easily getting used to it.

[wisdomrays]

HAVING BAD OPINION OF OTHERS: A DISEASE TO TOPPLE A PERSON

Question: Is having bad opinion of others actually self-inflicting?

Answer: “When you hear a man say, ‘The people are ruined,’ he himself is the most ruined of them all.” Since this blessed statement is a pithy one, it conveys many truths. One of the truths conveyed by this saying by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, pertains to making false assumptions or having bad opinions about others. Vilifying others, even to the degree of declaring them to be ruined, almost always stems from such false assumptions. However, the noble Prophet points out that the one who makes such sinful statements is actually the most ruined one.

Those who idolize their ego seek others to blame

The underlying motive behind such invective is egotism, ego-centrism, and even narcissism. If a person is vilifying everybody and finding faults in them, it means that they are idolizing themselves unawares. A person devoid of positive thinking but fixed on negative thoughts can even use their false assumptions to criticize very important acts of worship by others, questioning their sincerity in their prayers.

Such a thought should be accosted by the Prophet’s warning, “Did you cleave his heart open to check it out?” We cannot know anyone’s heart. A person who seems to neglectfully observe prayer may actually be observing it with deep feeling. Viewing others’ acts of worship with bias and assuming them to be sanctimonious is a terrible form of false assumption. Such a false assumption may cause a person to end up in utter spiritual loss. God Almighty forbids baseless suspicions, in a definite and clear fashion, with the following Divine decree: “O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is a grave sin (liable to God’s punishment); and do not spy (on one another…)” (al-Hujurat 49:12).

While considering others, it is always necessary to view them in a positive light, as far as there is a possible basis for it. Even if a person has only one aspect that allows positive thinking, one must still take it and avoid negative thinking. On the other hand, while viewing ourselves, we must be self-critical to the degree of worrying about the possibility of having spoilt our good deeds by showing off.

Someone who outwardly seems to have a weak connection with God, owing to poor observance of individual worship, can be someone who always speaks truthfully in interpersonal relations and never lies. We must interpret this attitude of theirs as a result of their God-consciousness and say, “Given that this person is so scrupulous about refraining from lying, then they must have a very strong relation with God.”

Similarly, imagine a person who is very vigilant against unlawful gain, does not even eat a forbidden morsel, and refuses to take an undeserved payment for a task they did not carry out. This person’s behaviors are so praiseworthy that one can only assume his or her special connection with the Divine.

Balance: think positively, but with caution

If we refrain from going to extremes but seek the ideal conduct on this matter, we must never disregard the following principle: for those people whose ups and downs we witness, we should still think positively, but with caution. If the person we view with positive thoughts occasionally strays from the line of uprightness, then they may not be a mature and perfect person, as we see them to be. In this respect, even if we entertain positive thoughts about that certain person, we should not fail to act cautiously about certain issues, such as giving them some vital responsibilities or entrusting them with very important tasks. However, we should know that even in such a case, we do not have the right to adopt statements that convey negative thoughts while giving an account of that person. We cannot say things like, “I do not have much trust in such and such person; they are not really trustworthy.”

While viewing others we should think that even the simplest deeds can be a means of salvation for them. We should overlook their faults and avoid speaking negatively about them. A particular example from the time of the noble Prophet provides important lessons to believers in this respect.

In the early period of the prohibition of alcohol, one Companion was caught drunk many times and was severely reprimanded. Once, he was brought to the presence of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, and reprimanded for the same offense. One of those present reacted to him with words like, “May God curse you! What a bad person you are! How many times it has been, and you are still brought to his presence like this?”

Upon hearing this, the noble Prophet said, “Do not speak like this; do not help Satan against your brother with such words. I swear by God, he loves God and His Messenger very much!” So we should constantly view others through this perspective of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him.

Positive thinking: a very beautiful form of worship

One must especially avoid making false assumptions when considering the volunteers devoted to serving for the sake of faith and the Qur’an—those who have a relationship with God, His Messenger, and the Qur’an. A believer must heed the following warning of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him:

“Whoever shames his brother for a sin, he shall not die until he (himself) commits it.” In this respect, one should be fearful, shaking in anguish with the consideration, “I saw such negative things in certain persons, but what if others see such things in me, my spouse, or my children?”

A real believer must be careful with his thoughts about others, no matter who they are. A real believer must act cautiously. As it is known, tayaqquz, which means being ever-vigilant, is the first step of spiritual journeying. A believer must always walk on the path of God with open eyes, channel his thoughts in the positive way as much as possible, and must definitely not commit the sin of false assumption. In addition, the noble Prophet points to positive thinking as a lofty horizon, stating that, “Entertaining good thoughts stem from a person’s good worship.”

Together with positive thinking we should not fail to act cautiously and build barriers against those who take delight in biting others like poisonous snakes and are continually trying to cause harm. However, acting cautiously in this respect should not stop you from praying to God to grant guidance to those who devise various conspiracies against you.

In the face of the mistreatment and oppressions you go through, God has granted you the possibility of a different preference. If you wish, it is possible for you to say, “My God, please vanquish them, shatter their alliances, bring their schemes to nothing, and let them fall into their own traps!” Saying all of these is your right, in accordance with the judgment of the verse, “If you have to respond to any wrong, respond (only) to the measure of the wrong done to you” (an-Nahl 16:126). If somebody is oppressing you, preparing different conspiracies against you, or setting traps against you, it will be your lawful right to make moves to reverse these. Together with that, the verse continues, “but if you endure patiently, it is indeed better for the patient…,” and states that even in terms of personal rights, it is better for you to show patience and not give up gentlemanliness.

[hel-is-makingstuff-blog]

Sloth in Soho-Ch.4

Aziraphael sat at Crowleys dining table, unnecessary reading glasses perched upon his nose, writing on a clean sheet of paper he’d found in the demon’s office.

Pride. He wrote in his practiced script, taking a brief moment to appreciate the fine quality of the fountain pen he had found, before he continued with a detailed description of Crowley’s first nightmare.

Wrath. Another description containing all that he could remember, including the feeling of something ‘other’ being present.  He hadn’t realized it until he had awoken but there had been a feeling of being watched, like an amoeba under a microscope. He hesitated a moment before writing out five more words, leaving ample room aside each in preparation for the future. Greed, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth.

This was likely the path these dreams were taking, though he couldn’t fathom an order. Something out there was appealing to Crowley’s worst traits and abusing them though to what end he still was not sure. To drag him back down? To torture him? Simply because they could?

The angel fought an urge to lay his head on the table and close his eyes. He didn’t sleep yet he felt exhausted down to his very soul. Pulled thin like cellophane. It had only been three hours since he arrived in Crowley’s new home but it felt like days. Above him, in the bedroom, a fresh wave of feeling was building. If it was exhausting for him it had to be debilitating to dear Crowley. He massaged his temples, trying to ease the pressure the demons energy was causing, and pushed his own physical welfare to the back of his mind. At least it was contained to the house. He couldn’t imagine what kind of effect these forces would have on the unsuspecting humans outside.

He underlined the sins. Tapped the paper. Then stood. Time for another attempt.

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It was getting easier to keep himself clear headed as he entered Crowley’s dream. This time he had his wits and senses about him from the very start. He was prepared for all manner of horror.

He was not prepared to find himself sitting on their bench in Saint James Park. Blue skies stretched overhead and there was a sweet breeze that carried the scent of flowers. The ducks were splashing happily in the water, not far off, as children tossed bread in their direction with glee. Crowley was in his usual spot, legs akimbo and looking like he was attempting to melt through the slats, watching the passing activities of mortals with hidden eyes. Aziraphael smiled in relief. This was familiar. He could handle this. “Lovely day,” he started, pleasantly, hoping to gauge just how aware the demon was of the reality of the situation. There was a twitch at the corner of Crowley’s lips. “Suppose it is. Heard they have it better southwards. Bastards.” That was an...odd comment. Aziraphael ploughed onwards. “Some sun is better than none, yes?” “Hmph,” was all he got in return. The angel was starting to get an off feeling in his stomach again. “Uhm...did you fancy some lunch?” “What’s the point?” Crowley huffed softly, looking anywhere but the angel at his side. “We don’t need food. We don’t get hungry. We’ll never have the same enjoyment as they do. Lucky, blessed arseholes.”

Ah. Envy it was, then. “Why don’t you go back to fawning over your bloody books?” Crowley continued with a bitterness Aziraphael only heard when the demon had been drinking tequila. “That’s where you really want to be.” It took a lot for Aziraphael to not snap back at the accusation. It would be all too easy to fall into familiar patterns given the scene decorating and start trading barbs with the man. Except he knew there was no good nature hidden in the demons words.

He was envious of the time Aziraphael spent fussing about his shop. It was baffling to the angel, seeing as Crowley was welcome to join him when ever he liked but...but there may have been an uncomfortable truth in this perception. He did tend to get wrapped up between the stacks to the point of being a reprehensible host. Aziraphael took breath. Kindness. Kindness was the remedy to Envy. Beside him Crowley was beginning to work himself up, a flickering of reignited wrath threatening to flare into something very real. “Where are those kids parents?” He was asking without giving Aziraphael a chance to respond, gesticulating towards the happy little ones and their ducks. “Bloody fools. Don’t they know some wicked blighter could come and snatch them away at any minute? Kids are miracle and they just left them there! I swear, people don’t deserve half of what they got. I could do it better.”

The ground swallowed the children up like a tasty morsel, eliciting a shout from the angel. Oh this was exactly the opposite of good!

“And look at those plants!” Crowley was on a roll, standing suddenly and sauntering over to meticulously maintained flower bed. They wilted under Crowley’s gaze. “They hire some gardener, pay him with the people’s taxes, and he lets insects chew up the flowers! The fucker has the easiest job on the planet and he can’t even DO IT RIGHT.” Aziraphael followed him, hands outstretched, placating, trying to get a word in edgewise but unable.Never had he known Crowley to be envious of the world around him. Perhaps it was something he kept close to his chest or refused to acknowledge. “And your lot! They have all eternity and all of God’s favor and protection and, what? They still want to stomp on my sort? Don’t they have enough?!” Crowley snarled up at blue-grey sky, the beginning of fangs forming at his canines. “And mine are fucking oblivious to how bloody fantastic it can be up here! Imagine being able to not know and not care and just do your job without asking fifty million questions!” Envy of Gods love, envy of ignorance, envy of humans doing what they want, envy of all the things he believed just out of his reach.

“Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you get on?” Crowley huffed and paced, the blue gone from the sky. Everything was dull, grey, and miserable. Aziraphael smiled. “I want to be here. I’ve devoted this whole day to you,” he informed him cheerily. It wasn’t exactly a lie. His day so far had been centered around Crowley and there was no where else he wanted to be.

This seemed to throw the demon. “Yeh?” He shifted a bit, looking elsewhere. “Well...you needn’t have done that.”

Aziraphael approached and gave him a firm poke in the forehead. “How hard it must be, to want so much and ask for so little in return. If you need my attention you must say so. You can do nothing about the children or the plants or Heaven and Hell...but you can about me, yes? I’m right here.” Crowley’s eyebrows lifted high above his sunglasses. “You want to be here?” “Why, yes!” Aziraphael laughed and smiled, delighting in his own admission. Of course he wanted to be here. Didn’t Crowley know that? Hadn’t six thousand years of friendship in defiance of the natural order of things taught him anything? “If I didn’t want to be I would have left when they called me back all those years ago.”

“Why?” He sounded like he was asking after some secret, a note of hope in his voice, a feeling of...of...something in his aura. He was suddenly close, the park had stopped existing. All his focus was on Aziraphael. “Why?” The angel repeated, brow furrowing. Actually, why...why did they always seek each other out? Why did they risk their lives to save the world? For humanity's sake, to be sure, but...but Crowley was willing to leave it all behind as long as Aziraphael came with him. He had been tempted to accept. Even if the world ended as long as he and Crolwey weren’t forced to kill each other all would be well. It was a selfish thought he had banished the very moment it had occurred.

“I...I suppose that a great many things are better as long as you’re at my side. Whether it be sorting books, having a meal, or feeding ducks,” his voice had lost it strength and a blush was rising in his cheeks. “You’re so willing to go out of your way for me...I don’t believe I’ve ever done as much for you. I...I envy your ability to know exactly where you want to be.” Crowley was so close. Why did he need to be so close?! “Angel….” He started, all wrath and envy gone from him. Everything he ever wanted was standing directly in front of him, Aziraphael realized...and promptly began to panic. Did this mean the Crowley was-?!

“Again?” It wasn’t Crowley’s voice. This voice drawled and sounded more than a little irritated. “I do wish you’d stop interrupting. It makes everything so much harder.” Both Crowley and Aziraphael jumped, looking at the encroaching dark for a source of the voice.

It was hard to focus with Crowley’s hand on his arm like that. When had it gotten there, anyways?

“Wait your turn, foolish angel. Keep this up and I’ll have to redivert myself. That would make me cranky. You don’t want that.” Crowley was in motion then, hissing. “I know that voissssce! Aziraphael! You need-!” Whatever he needed he never found out. A noise like a vuvuzela giving birth to a fog horn during a traffic jam shook the air, blotting out his voice and scattering their thoughts to the wind. When he returned to the bed room this time he found himself basically laying on top of the demon, face in his chest. His head and ears were still ringing with a very real pain and something alarming hot was running down the sides of his face. He mopped at it hurriedly, already thinking about plunging back in- His hand came away red. Aziraphael’s ears were bleeding.

[wisdomrays]

A Disease to Topple A Person: Making False Assumptions

QUESTION: As it is stated in a saying of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, with reference to a self-righteous person, when one says that other people are ruined, he himself is the most ruined of all. Are behaviors such as making false assumptions and continually threatening others included in this saying’s meaning?

ANSWER: In this saying, which is included in Imam Muslim’s Sahih, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, states, “When you hear a man say, ‘The people are ruined,’ he himself is the most ruined of them all.” Since this blessed statement is a pithy one, it conveys many truths. One of its truths pertains to making false assumptions about others, as it is mentioned in the question. Pouring forth invective about this or that person, even to the degree of declaring him to be ruined, almost always stems from such false assumptions. However, the noble Prophet points out that the one who makes such sinful statements is actually the most ruined one.

Those who idolize their ego seek others to blame

The underlying motive behind such invective is egotism, ego-centrism, and even narcissism. If a person is vilifying everybody and finding faults in them, it means that he is idolizing himself in self-adoration unawares. He is virtually speaking to a mirror, saying, “There is no one like you; let everything be sacrificed for you.”

A person devoid of positive thinking but fixed on negative thinking can even use their false assumptions to criticize very important acts of worship by others, such as prayer. For example, when a vain person sees someone observing prayer, he may entertain thoughts as, “I wonder if this person has really melted into prayer?”

Such a thought should be accosted by the Prophet’s warning, “Did you cleave his heart open to check it out?” We cannot know anyone’s heart. A person who seems to neglectfully observe prayer may actually be observing it with deep feeling. Therefore, although it is our duty to voice truths such as teaching the correct form of prayer and presenting the characteristics of believers, we must also refrain from entertaining negative considerations about anyone else’s observance of prayer or fasting—and we must especially refrain from voicing and negative thoughts. Viewing others’ acts of worship with bias and assuming them to be sanctimonious is a terrible form of false assumption. Such a false assumption may cause a person to end up in utter spiritual loss. God Almighty forbids baseless suspicions, in a definite and clear fashion, with the following Divine decree:

“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, for some suspicion is a grave sin (liable to God’s punishment); and do not spy (on one another…)” (al-Hujurat 49:12).

While considering others, it is always necessary to view them in a positive light, as far as there is a possible basis for it. Even if a person only one aspect that allows positive thinking, one must still take to it and avoid negative thinking. For example, a man may solely have said the proclamation of faith or the testimony of faith as a good deed for the Afterlife; yet if he has done this, our opinion about this man, who outwardly does not do any good deeds, should be, “This brother may have said the testimony of faith from the bottom of his heart, and this statement of his may have gained a high worth in the sight of God. Therefore, he may be saved in the next world with that single protestation of faith.”

On the other hand, while viewing ourselves, we must be self-critical to the degree of worrying about the possibility of having spoilt our good deeds by showing off, even if we do not only observe the five daily prayers but also add some fifty more make up prayers, and thus fear to be ruined because of our ostentation.

There are many more examples. Someone who outwardly seems to have a weak connection with God, owing to poor observance of individual worship, can be someone who always speaks truthfully in interpersonal relations and never lies. We must interpret this attitude of his as a result of his God-consciousness, and say, “Given that this person is so scrupulous about refraining from lying, then he must have a very strong relation with God.”

Similarly, imagine a person who is very vigilant against unlawful gain, does not even eat a forbidden morsel, and refuses to take an undeserved payment for a task he did not carry out. This person’s behaviors are so beautiful that we cannot explain them without a context of seeking good pleasure of God. For this reason, in all of these situations, we must always entertain positive thoughts about that person’s relationship with God.

Balance: Positive thinking without absolute trust

If we refrain from going to extremes but seek the ideal conduct on this matter, we must also never disregard the following principle: for those people whose ups and downs we witness, positive thinking is adopted together with an absence of absolute trust. If the person we view with positive thoughts has occasional strays from the line of uprightness, then he may not be a mature and perfect person as we see him to be. In this respect, even if we entertain positive thoughts about that certain person, we should not fail to act cautiously about certain issues, such as giving him some vital responsibilities or entrusting him with very important tasks. However, we should know that even in such a case, we do not have the right to adopt statements that convey negative thoughts while giving an account of that person. We cannot say things like, “I do not have much trust in such and such person; he is not really trustworthy.”

While viewing others we should think that even the simplest deeds can be a means of salvation for them. We should overlook their faults, and avoid speaking negatively about them. A particular example from the time of the noble Prophet gives important lessons to believers in this respect.

In the early period of the prohibition of alcohol, one Companion was caught drunk many times and was severely reprimanded. Once, he was brought to the presence of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, and reprimanded for the same offense. One of those present reacted to him with words like, “May God curse you! What a bad person you are! How many times it has been, and you are still brought to his presence like this!”

Upon hearing this, the noble Prophet said, “Do not speak like this; do not help Satan against your brother with such words. I swear by God, he loves God and His Messenger very much!” So we should constantly view others through this perspective of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him.

Positive thinking: A very beautiful form of worship

One must especially avoid making false assumptions when considering the volunteers devoted to serving for the sake of faith and the Qur’an—those who have a relation with God, His Messenger and the Qur’an. A believer must heed the following warning of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him:

“Whoever shames his brother for a sin, he shall not die until he (himself) commits it.” In this respect, one should be fearful, shaking in anguish with the consideration, “I saw such negative things in in certain persons, but what if others see such things in me, my spouse, or my children?”

A real believer must be much careful with his thoughts about others, no matter who they are. A real believer must act cautiously. As it is known, tayaqquz, which means being ever-vigilant, is the first step of spiritual journeying. A believer must always walk on the path of God with open eyes, channel his thoughts in the positive way as much as possible, and must definitely not commit the sin of false assumption. In addition, the noble Prophet points to positive thinking as a lofty horizon, stating that, “Entertaining good thoughts stem from a person’s good worship.”

Together with positive thinking we should not fail to act cautiously and build barriers against those who take delight in biting others like poisonous snakes and are continually trying to cause harm. However, acting cautiously in this respect should not stop you from praying to God to grant guidance to those who devise various conspiracies against you. It is for this reason that when a thought occurred to me about those who have written against me for some fifty years ending up in Hell, I immediately begin to pray, “No God please! Here I am imploring you: please do not send them to Hell! Kindle faith in their hearts instead, and let them have faith too, please!”

In the face of the mistreatment and oppressions you go through, God has granted you the possibility of a different preference. If you wish, it is possible for you to say, “My God, please vanquish them, shatter their alliances, bring their schemes to nothing, and let them fall into their own traps!” Saying all of these is your right, in accordance with the judgment of the verse,

“If you have to respond to any wrong, respond (only) to the measure of the wrong done to you” (an-Nahl 16:126).

If somebody is oppressing you, prepare different conspiracies against you, or setting traps against you, it will be your lawful right to make moves to reverse these. Together with that, the verse continues, “but if you endure patiently, it is indeed better for the patient…” and states that even in terms of personal rights, it is better for you to show patience and not give up gentlemanliness.