#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.

[wri0thesley]

Lucky - Kars x Fem! Reader (Kinktober Day #4: Somnophilia)

NSFW. 18+ ONLY. AFAB reader, neutral pronouns. SOMNOPHILIA. Dub-con if you squint; Reader is Kars’ pet, although it’s made VERY clear that they’re more than happy to be so. Size difference, slight belly bulge, lots of come - one (1) vague allusion to procreation.  2.5k.

Your Master takes whatever he wants, when he wants it - and you are more than happy to give him it. 

You had never pictured your life like this, when you’d imagined a future. You’re not sure what exactly you did picture - you’ve had vague occasional thoughts of a husband or a wife, sun-dappled mornings, a family, a breakfast neatly laid on a kitchen table. You’ve thought of the libraries you’ve spent so much of your time in and the dust motes floating in golden sunbeams. You’ve thought of being on your knees among your garden, digging in fresh soil, throwing a stick for a pet dog . . . 

No, you certainly never imagined this.

You never imagined finding yourself beneath a man like Lord Kars, a pleased smirk curling his face. You never imagined swearing fealty and loyalty to a man who’d soon see your entire species eradicated - you certainly never imagined that a man would stroke your face with massive fingers and murmur, lowly;

“My pet.”

And that you’d shiver in anticipation instead of disgust. Perhaps the idea of being a pet to someone much stronger and faster and cleverer than you would be abhorrent to most people - a few months ago, you’d have agreed with them. But these people have never seen Lord Kars. Have never been privy to his amused smirk and his voice shivering with suggestion and his body, cool and toned and hard like marble pressed against theirs. They’ve never caught the attention of a God - they do not know how intoxicating it is to be the object of affection of one. 

Lord Kars himself sometimes expresses wonderment that you’ve so captured those affections. He doesn’t find mortals all that fascinating, as a whole - but something about you . . . He traces the lines of your body with big fingers and makes you open up before him like a blooming flower, your petals trembling under his hungry gaze. He has you sit at his feet, running fingers through your hair - he listens to you talk about things you care about, the plants in your garden, making a soft hum low in the back of his throat that makes you feel safe and comforted. 

“I don’t know what it is that so enchants me about you, little pet,” he murmurs against your collarbone, big fingers spreading you open, coaxing forth enough wetness that you might come close to fitting him easily, “But oh, how it does.”

He had given you a choice: one final chance to flee, and he would not follow - or stay and kneel at his feet and kiss his hand and be his in every sense of the word. Belong to him. 

Six months ago, it would have seemed a simple choice, and you’d have laughed in his face. Three months ago, though, you had barely thought as you’d inclined your head and brushed your lips over his palm. 

“So you’re to be mine, little morsel,” he’d said, voice very low - so deep it feels like it reverberates down your spine and settles there familiar and comforting. “I must say . . . I’m pleased that you’ve made the correct decision.”

And so you had become his. You’d bowed under his big hands, let fingers wring pleasures from you that you didn’t know your body was capable of - had felt his mouth against you, drawing you closer and closer to peaks of fire, and had used your own on him in return. Your own hands - inexperienced though they were - had learnt every dip and contour and hard muscled plane of his body until you could see him in your sleep, all the while his amused voice had reminded you how lucky you were. 

Lucky. Yes, you feel that. 

-

Lord Kars can do what he wants with you; you had given yourself over to him utterly when he asked. Now is no different - as he pulls silken sheets from your body and you stir in your sleep, your nose crinkling, a soft sigh escaping your parted lips. You’re already mostly naked - the diaphanous slip that he gives you to wear (if he takes you outside with him at night you have luxurious clothes no matter the weather - he might not feel cold, but he has watched the goosepimpling of your skin in the cool air with interest) rucked up around your thighs. 

For some people, seeing you in front of them laid bare like this might fill them with excitement - it is not so for Kars. You are his body and soul and he is merely taking his rights from you - looking at you laid out like a beautiful painting, just ready to be touched even in your slumber, fills him with the warmth that one gets when they own something beautiful. 

He grazes the heel of his hand over one side of your body - the soft swell of your breasts, your waist, curve of your hips. You sigh again, tossing your hair slightly. Your mouth moves into a soft moue of disappointment as he pulls his touch away, but it is not for long. This time, when he touches you, he brings up both of his big hands and they land over your breasts. You’re soft beneath his grip - he squeezes gently, experimentally, and you whine in the back of your throat, baring your neck. Sweet. Even in sleep, you’re desperate for him - some part of you recognises the coolness and size of his hands and knows subconsciously that it is your Master who is laying claim to you. His thumb and forefinger pinch one nipple through the thin fabric, and your eyebrows furrow - Kars finds himself smiling down at you, his look far more tender than he’d ever allow had you been awake. 

You always react to him so well - even now, you’re parting your thighs, sighing softly. You know what he wants from you even when you’re still half-buried in your own subconscious, and he feels his own cock stir at your display of helpless devotion. 

“Patience, little one,” he murmurs, a few more moments spent squeezing and stroking your breasts until your nipples are hard and obvious, making little points in the fabric. “All in good time.”

He pushes what little you’re wearing up higher, so your stomach and thighs and hips are all bare for his hungry gaze. 

You’ve already spread your thighs, and Kars smirks again as he runs a thumb over your slit - you’re slick with need just from the few small touches he’s given you so far. He’s never dipped his hand between your legs whilst you’re awake and found you anything but damp - but the knowledge you’re like this even without possession of your senses is intoxicating. You’re his perfect little pet, in every sense of the word. 

The touch of his fingers on your thighs as he pulls away from the slick valley of your sex is feather light - he could bruise you so easily, but he doesn’t want to wake you with pain. No, if you awake he wants it to be that the feel of him inside you driving you to need to be involved, or the force of an orgasm rocking your body too good to be ignored. You’re almost trembling under his strokes, already. 

Still. He’s not a monster. You take his cock well - but you almost never take it unprepared, With two thumbs, he gently parts the plump lips of your core, pleased to see that you’re pulsing invitingly and glinting in the low light, your clit swollen to attention. He’s barely touched you - but part of the reason you’d so enthralled him was how prettily you respond to his ministrations. 

He could crush you in moments - snuff out your life like it was nothing. He dwarfs you in bed, in size and in speed and in power - and yet, you continue to intrigue him. 

A finger toys with the clit, and you mewl in your sleep, bucking your hips up lazily in search of pressure. The noise goes straight to his cock, already stiff and more than ready to be inside you. But Kars did not get where he is without patience. He is iron-willed. His cock wants to be buried inside you, tight and hot and wet and deep - but he will deny himself for now. 

For now, he enjoys the way you move in your sleep. The soft pliancy of your body as he spreads your thighs even wider, as he places the tip of his finger at your entrance - as you welcome that same finger into your silky confines with a sigh, breaching the final knuckle yourself. You’re tight like this, your walls pulsing around even just one of his fingers (never mind that his finger is almost the size of the cock of a regular man) - but still, he pulls it out. He wins another whine from you for that, until his second finger joins the first, twisting inside of you and gently scissoring you open. 

He’s not always the kind of creature to prepare you slowly - he sometimes likes pressing three fingers as deep inside of you as they can go and curling them to rub against your sweet spot, watching how your eyes roll back in your head and you wail into the ceiling. But now . . . now, he is enjoying the quieter noises of your arousal. The soft pants, the eyes squeezed shut, the slight flush that has crept to your face. Your breathing remains even, but he knows it won’t be for long. 

He enjoys your slick tightness around him for a few moments before he pumps them in and out, agonisingly slow. He wants to be pumping his cock in and out of you, really . . . but the way you’re clenching around him and your thighs are trembling make a pleasant distraction to the heat low in his own core. His thumb strokes once across your clit - and he watches as your teeth bite into your lip at that, eyelashes fluttering. The second stroke across your clit you toss your head in your dreams, a gasp falling from your mouth that sounds like a plea. 

He almost wants to keep going. Your hips are moving subconsciously now in time with his fingers thrusting. Your walls are fluttering around him, trying to hold him inside of you with an iron grip. Your slick is soaking his fingers and thumb, pooling beneath you on the sheets - but he doesn’t want you to wake up because he made you come with his fingers. 

(Another time, he tells himself - another time he’ll let you come in your sleep with his fingers buried inside you. He wants to feel how much like a vice your insides would feel, how you’d gush over him. But not tonight.)

The pulling out of those fingers wins another groan, this one disappointment and frustration. Sweet, how needy you are. 

You will not be needy for long, he thinks, as he positions himself between your thighs, reaching to free his cock. He spends a moment, before he fucks you, enjoying the scene you make for him - all tousled and unaware, your body looking impossibly small next to his muscled thighs and the cock he has pressing against your entrance. 

The first time you had seen it, your eyes had widened and your tongue had darted out to wet your lips, as you’d haltingly professed that you weren’t sure you could take it. 

You had. 

And he knows you’ll take it now, as he begins the slow inexorable press of his hips against yours, your tight, wet heat enveloping the head of his cock. Your head falls back and you groan aloud, and Kars takes a hold of your hips to ensure you stay against him. 

Inch by inch, he sinks inside of you, and you welcome him as you always do - silky and hot and perfect, clinging to him like your body was made for taking him. He finds himself groaning at just how tight you are in your sleep, before he catches it in his mouth - he will not let go of his composure. He hilts in you. You are still his. He is still your Master--

A hand on his bicep. 

“L-Lord Kars?” You murmur, and your eyes open, dark with sleep. “Mm, Lord Kars--”

Your legs lock lazily about his hips. They barely stretch that wide - your feet are nowhere near meeting. He is not the size of a creature who you could really wrap yourself around. But the intention is clear - that you want him as deep inside of you as he can go. 

You are still half-asleep as he begins to rock against you. Your pants and sighs are still heavy, and your grip as you go to his shoulders is lazy. Kars does not care. He would not admit how helplessly hard your utter submission in your sleep has rendered him - he has to rein himself in to keep his composure, to keep speaking to you as he fucks you. 

He has never been so close to losing himself into animal nature, grunting and groaning and fucking into your body beneath him until you and he are like two animals desperate to mate. So he breathes and speaks to keep himself grounded, congratulating you on how well you’re taking him, what a good little pet you are, how you were made to take his cock--

You come first, as you always do. The feel of his cock stretching you out so deeply, the way that it hits your most sensitive spots with every stroke, the constant pressure of his hard pelvis against your clit - it’s no wonder that whimpers come spilling out of your mouth as you come under him, sparks of pleasure converging on one point so your sex pulses around him. 

He fucks you through the orgasm and the aftershocks, your body becoming once more limp and helpless as your eyelids close again. Did you wake, just to come? Will you even remember this in the morning, or will it be half-remembered like a dream? Your pliability beneath him pushes over the edge, and Kars’ cock pulsates inside of you, twitching, spilling his come deep inside you. He chases the high himself with deeper, longer thrusts, the sound of him driving his come inside of you indecently loud in his bedchambers even mixed with your chest-deep pants--

When he pulls out, your sex is leaking him, and your stomach is almost slightly distended. He knows, from how you’ve choked around it, that he comes a little more than the average man - of course he does. He’s no man. He’s a God. He’s chastised you for not swallowing it all until you’ve promised to do better, fervently rubbing your face against his cock again to goad him into hardness so you can show him that next time you will take all of him. 

Ordinarily, he would be frustrated that a drop of his precious seed is wasted. No matter what the ends of his fucking - and with you, prized little pet, it is not procreation - you should feel honoured to have taken him. 

But now, he feels dimly satisfied that you will have the reminder of him between sticky thighs when you wake back up. Just as an assurance that the events of tonight were not a dream - and perhaps to tempt you into asking him to do it again. 

He will no matter what. But he feels so much more powerful when it’s you asking. 

[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.