Spiritual Discipline — Essence of Islam Vol. 4

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 4), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Spiritual Discipline, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 3: Status of the Promised Messiah (as)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Physical Discipline and Hardship | Next: Bounties and Titles »

Status of the Promised Messiahas tasted hunger and thirst. Then I stopped its continuous practice, but did revert to it occasionally. All of this happened, but there still remained the spiritual discipline. I have also come to partake of this in these days when I have to endure the Maulavis with their foul tongue, loose talk, declaration of apostasy, and insults and other ignorant ones with their curses and foul language. In my opinion, during the thirteen hundred years since the time of the Holy Prophetsa, no one else could have partaken of such treatment. Being declared an apostate, I was considered worse than the infidels, Christians and atheists. The fools of the nation, through announcements and newspapers, gave me such bad names as are not to be found in the case of anyone else. I am, therefore, grateful to Allah that I was tested with both kinds of hardship.
[Kitab-ul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 13, pp. 195-201, footnote]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 27]

God Almighty knows—and He is the best witness over everything—that the first thing that has been granted to me in His way is a pure heart—that is, a heart that had no real attachment with anyone except God, the Lord of honour and glory.
There was a time when I was young and now I am old, but at no time in my life have I had any real attachment to anything except God, the Mighty, and the Glorious… Because of this love of mine, I have never been reconciled to any religion, the doctrines of which were in conflict with the Greatness and Unity of God, or involved any dishonour to Him.
That is why I did not approve of the Christian faith, for at every step it dishonours God, the Mighty, and the Glorious… In the same way the Hindu faith, one branch of which is the Arya sect, falls far short of the truth. According to them, every particle in this world is self-existing and has no Creator. Thus, the Hindus do not believe in God, without Whom nothing comes into existence and without Whose support nothing can continue to exist… I have reflected deeply and I have found both these religions opposed to the truth. It is not possible for me to recount here all the inhibitions and despair that are encountered in these faiths in one’s search for God Almighty. It is enough to state in brief that these two religions afford no guidance to God Who is sought by pure souls and by finding Whom man achieves salvation in this very life and the gates of divine light are opened for him and perfect love can be generated through His perfect recognition. On the contrary, these religions push their followers into the pits of ruin. There are other similar religions in the world, but they all fail to lead a votary to the One God, Who has no associate. They leave the seeker in darkness. These are all the religions in the study of which I spent a great portion of my life. I reflected over their principles with honesty and diligence, but I found them all divorced and estranged from truth. The Status of the Promised Messiahas blessed religion, the name of which is Islam, is the only faith that leads to God Almighty and is the only faith, which fulfils all the pure demands of human nature… The God of Islam does not shut the door of His grace upon anyone. He calls everyone to come to Him and the door is opened for those who eagerly run towards Him.
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 27]

Have a Question?

Introduction