Aslam

The third mode of putting God-reliance into practice is to adopt means to remove an impending danger. God-reliance is not impaired by that. It is prohibited to sleep in places infected by ferocious beasts or near a hillock, or near a torrent, or a wall inclined to fall. The causes are three — (1) what is absolutely necessary, (2) what is begotten by guess and (3) what arises from idea. It is one of the conditions of God-reliance to give up causes arising out of ideas. To remove injuries by adopting spells and charms is included within ideas. The Prophet said that one cannot be Go-reliant if he does not give up charms. Spells and enchantments. He did not prohibit to use warm clothes in cold countries. God says : Take Him as wakil and keep patience at what they say. God says : They said : We shall keep patience at your oppression on us. God-reliant persons depend upon God — 14:16. God says : So forget their oppression and depend on God — 33 : 48. God says : Have patience as the Prophets with firm determination kept patience. God says : Those doers are good who kept patience and those who rely on their Lord. These verses were revealed in connection with the oppression of men. It is not God- reliance not to try to prevent the injuries of serpents, ferocious beasts and such other beings except men. Similarly God- reliance is not impaired if means are adopted to remove injuries to properties. The Prophet said to a desert Arab : Why have you let loose your camel? He said : I let it loose depending on God. He said : Tie it and depend on God. God says : Take recourse to your care. He said describing the prayer of fear : Let them take their arms. God says. Prepare for them instruments of strength and the tie of horses as far as possible — 8 :60. God said to Moses : Travel at night with My servants. This means that he should go out at night to escape search of his foes. The object of the Prophet's hiding in a cave when leaving Mecca is to ward off injuries from the enemies.

Question. There are stories of a group of saints that they climbed upon tigers which submitted themselves to them. In answer to that it may be said that that stage of God reliance should not deceive you. If the stories are correct, it should not be followed as they were then in the highest stage and these are included within miracles. There is no such condition of God- reliance.

Question. Is there any sign of that stage ? In answer to that I might say that the person who reaches that stage does not require

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 231

such signs but one of the signs is that your companion, dog of anger, will remain subdued to you. If it submits to you, it shall not bite without your signal. Your condition sometimes will reach such a high stage that even tiger, the king of beasts, will be subdued to you. When your own dog will be subdued to you, don't be anxious to subdue the other dogs.