Aslam

LOVE OF POWER AND SHOW

The Prophet said : the greatest of what I fear most for my followers is Riya or show of piety and secret greed. It is more secret than the movements of black ants on a smooth stone in the darkest night. For that reason, the experienced learned men have become baffled to save themselves from its injuries. By it the religious men are tried as they want to get respect from the people for their learning and piety. They wish to get praise and respect in meetings. When show is a secret disease and a great window for the devil, the causes of show should be known, We shall divide this chapter into two sections-(l) Love of power, name and fame and (2) show.

SECTION I

LOVE OF POWER, NAME AND FAME

Know, O dear readers, that lover of name and fame is bad and to live in an unknown state is good, but if name and fame spread without search, it is not bad. The Prophet said : It is sufficient for the evil of a man if he is shown by fingers regarding his temporal and spiritual worlds. But he is saved whom God saves. He also said : God does not look to your figures but He looks to your hearts and actions, Hazrat AH said : spend but don't disclose it.
Don't raise your personality to attract attention of the people, rather keep it secret and remain silent, you will then remain safe.
The pious men will be satisfied with you and the impious people will remain dissatisfied. Hazrat Ibrahim-Adham said : He who . loves name and fame does not know God to be true. Abu Ayyub Saktani said : By God, a man does not know God to be true till be knows well that his address should not be known by anybody.
When many people gathered in the assembly of Zikr of Khaled-o-Ma'ad, he used to go away from it.

Once ten persons were walking with Hazrat Talha. He said :
It is the wing of greed and bed do Hell. Once Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud came out of his house when a host of men were following him. He said to them : Why do you walk behind me. By God, had you known why I keep my door closed, two of you would not have followed me. Once Hasan Basari came out followed by a group of people, He said to them : Have you got any necessity with me? If

210 The Book of Destructive evils Vol-III

you have got, it is good or else it is not good to have this feeling in the mind of a believer. Once Hazrat Ayub came out and many people followed him. He said : Had I not known that God knows that I hate your following me, I would have feared the dislike of God. sufyan Saori said : The wise men of yore hated the dress at which the people looked with prolonged eyes Once a man requested Bashr-b- Hares to advise him. He said : He who loves name and fame does not get the taste of the next world.

MERITS OF STAYING BEHIND THE EYES OF MEN