SWEETNESS

 

(received on 18 May 2002 at 3.30 p.m)

 

 

By sweetness is meant sociability, civility, broadmindedness, polite speaking, cheerfulness and forbearance. It is necessary for a beautiful face to have good habits, otherwise the beauty is useless. If there is a beautiful house in a beautiful city, but only owls reside there, what is its beauty?

 

There may be a green tree, but if there are no flowers or fruits on it, then what use can it be? A gold watch which does not tell time, or a beautiful lamp which does not give light, is of no value. Similarly, a man may be very beautiful, and may wear costly clothes, but if he is not social, is not good mannered, courteous and polite, then he is without human virtues. What makes a man really a man are his sociability and cheerfulness.

 

The bounties of the Lord are reserved for the person who greets others with a cheerful heart and an open mind. Sweet speech full of humility goes to the bottom of another man’s heart, and this is the real glory and embellishment of man.

 

However, serious the difficulty, use politeness, sweetness and melody. It can succeed better than use of the sword or violence. Think before you speak. Even if there is an occasion, ask to be excused, as a matter of courtesy. It takes sweet to take bitter pills from a cheerful person. It, however, becomes difficult to take even a sweet thing from the hands of a rude man.

 

The mind is like a crow, which has no other wish than to annoy people. But as soon as it is steeped in love, it becomes a swan and troubles no one.

 

The heart is the true Mosque of God. It is the temple of the Lord. Everyone’s heart is the Lord’s tabernacle. He who causes pain to hearts strikes and breaks that temple.

 

He who causes pain to others not only desecrates and ruins the temples of others, but demolishes the temple of his own heart also.

 

How can we be happy if we injure any organic. If one understands this, he does not injure any living being or any other animate object, to say nothing of injuring a man. To think ill of others is a sin of the mind. Jealousy, hatred and enmity are evils of the mind. Harsh words, criticism of others, speaking ill of them and abusing them are sins of speech, wrong actions are sins of the body.

 

When you meet another person cheerfully, you shower flowers, and the other man becomes full of its scent. Be cheerful like a flower. Whoever would meet you would share your happiness. Whoever comes in contact with you would be pleased with you. To be courteous on a particular occasion is called politeness, but when one is always courteous and mild he is called civil. This virtue is very helpful in spiritual matters.

 

MUNIR AHMAD AZIM