Continuing our series of weekly extracts of writings from Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": If the body is drawn in a particular direction the soul automatically follows it.  It is, therefore, a function of the Book of God to direct itself to the natural state of man:  that is why the Holy Quran pays so much attention to the reform of the natural state of man and gives directions with regard to every one of his actions, his laughing, weeping, eating, clothing, sleeping, speaking, keeping silent, marrying, remaining celibate, walking, standing still, outward cleanliness, bathing, submitting to a discipline in health an in illness, etc.  It affirms that man's physical condition affects his spiritual condition deeply....

Continuing our series of weekly extracts of writings from Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": As man approaches 40, he starts shredding the vagaries of his youth and ruefully looks back at many of his follies from which his counselors had failed to dissuade him.  The ebullience of his youth naturally begins to subside, for his physical condition declines with advancing age...

Writings of Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": The better part of a person's life, before the onset of senility, can be measured at approximately 80 years, half of which is 40.  Here the number 40 correlates with the first 4 months the fetus spends in the womb prior to its first physical movements.  Experience tells us that when man has lived half of his productive life-the first 40 yeras which bear a strong likeness to the first 4 months of a fetus' existence-his soul awakens and shows nascent signs of spiritual life, provided he is blessed with a pure disposition. It is no secret that before he is 40 a man's life is mostly obscured by ignorance.  The first 7 or 8 years of his existence are passed in infancy, and the following 25 or so years are mostly spent in the pursuit of learning or frittered away on libertine pleasures.  Afterwards, he is married or is otherwise...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said:  Allah says: Whoever is at enmity with one whom I befriend should beware of having to do battle with Me.  When a servant of Mine seeks to approach Me through that which I like best out of what I have made obligatory upon him, and continues to advance towards Me by dint of voluntary effort beyond that prescribed then I begin to love him.  When I love him I become his ears by which he hears, and his eyes with which he sees, and his hands with which he grasps, and his feet with which he walks.  When he asks Me I bestow upon him and when he seeks My protection I protect him (Bokhari) The Holy Prophet (saws) said:  Allah says: When a servant of Mine advances towards Me a foot, I advance towards him a yard, and when he advances towards Me a yard, I advance towards...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said:  A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than a weak one.  Out of all good things, desire that which is most beneficial for you.  Keep imploring Allah for help and do not give up.  Should you be afflicted in any way, do not say: Had I only done this and that, things would have turned out so and so; but say only: Allah so determined and did as He willed.  The phrase: Had I only, opens the gates of evil conduct (Muslim)   The Holy Prophet (saws) said: 3 accompany a dead body: members of his family, his belongings, and his deeds.  2 of them come away and 1 remains.  The members of his family and his belongings come away, his deeds remain (Bokhari and Muslim)...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: The strong one is not he who knocks out others in wrestling, the strong one is he who keeps control over himself when he is roused (Bokhari and Muslim) Someone asked the Holy Prophet (saws) to advise him.  The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Do not yield to anger.  The man repeated his request several times.  Every time the Holy Prophet (saws) said: Do not yield to anger.  (Bokhari)...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : Hasan ibn Ali relates that he learnt the following from the Holy Prophet (saw):  Leave alone that which involves thee in doubt and adhere to that which is free from doubt, for truth is comforting, falsehood is disturbing. (Tirmidhi) The Holy Prophet (saw) said: He who supplicates Allah sincerely for martyrdom is raised by Him to the station of a martyr even if he should die in his bed (Muslim)...

Writings of Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as) from "Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam": The first spring which is the source of all natural states is designated by the Holy Quran the Nafsi Ammarah, which means the self that incites to evil, as it says in the Holy Quran   The soul is surely prone to enjoin evil (12:54)   This is man's natural state, so long as he is not guided by reason and understanding but follows his natural bent in eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, anger, and provocation, like the animals.  When a person is guided by reason and understanding and brings his natural state under control and regulates it in a proper manner, then these three states, as described, cease to remain the categories as natural states, but are called moral states....

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : A companion related: We were with the Holy Prophet (saw) in a campaign.  We came to a shady tree and we left it for him to rest under.  A pagan came and seeing the sword of the Holy Prophet (saw) which was hanging from the tree, drew it, and said to him:  Do you fear me?  He answered: No.  Then the man asked:  Now who will deliver you from me?  The Holy Prophet (saw) answered:  Allah.  Thereupon the sword fell from the man's hand and the Holy Prophet (saw) having secured it asked him: Who will now deliver you from me?  The man said: Be a good captor.  The Holy Prophet (saw) asked him: Will you affirm that there is no one worthy of worship save Allah and that I am His Messenger?  The man said: No.  But I promise you that I will not fight against you, nor will I join...

Following Hadith taken from "Gardens of the Righteous" : The Holy Prophet (saws) said: Were you to put your complete trust in Allah, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds.  They issue forth hungry in the morning and return filled in the evening. (Tirmidhi)   The Holy Prophet (saws) said: He who on emerging from his house supplicates supplicates:  Bismillah-i tawakkaltu 'alallaahi wa-laa haula wa-laa quwwata 'illaa billah-i (I issue forth in the name of Allah, putting my trust in Him; there is no strength to resist evil and no power to do good save through Him) is greeted with: He is guided, is sufficed, and is saved, and Satan withdraws from him (Abu Daud, Tirmidhi, Nisai)   ...