DO NOT STRAY FROM THE TRUTH

Striving to choose the most correct path in life is natural to man. It is hard to live feeling that some aspect of what you are doing is wrong and flawed. In fact, examining one's own deeds, weighing them on the scales of reason, placing them before the mirror of the heart, testing them with the power of logic, and acting accordingly is granted to very few among people. Most people are deprived of asking the question, “Is what I am doing and the way I live right?” The sons of Adam spend their lives with such questions. Sometimes, even if he cannot find a clear answer to his question, even if he cannot perceive a clear solution, a cry from the depths of his heart keeps sounding: “You are making a mistake! You are making a mistake! You are making a mistake!” A person looks over his deeds but does not understand what is wrong, and his heart does not calm down, does not feel at peace. In such a state a human being must seek the truth, must search for why there is this torment and anguish. Whoever seeks will surely find the answer; the main thing is not to settle for falsehood. Let us say that a person has now found his path. He has discovered a truth, and this truth has given him peace. This truth prefers faith to unbelief, holds humanity above savagery, believes mercy to be greater than justice, is convinced that justice is greater than oppression, understands clearly and plainly, openly and brightly, that forgiveness is more beautiful than punishment, bears witness that wisdom is more luminous than knowledge, and has discovered the harmony of compassion and severity. If what is called truth belongs to unbelief; if it mixes humanity and savagery; if it tramples mercy in the name of justice; if it does not distinguish justice from oppression; if it forgets forgiveness in the name of punishment; if it strives for knowledge but does not comprehend wisdom; if it does not understand the harmony between compassion and severity; if discernment does not walk ahead of reason – then it is not truth, but merely a mixture of vague notions. The intention to discover such a truth must, from the days of youth, stand at the center of a person's aspiration. Not only let it stand at the center of aspiration, but let all his actions move forward driven by this aspiration; then one can hope that the goal will be attained. It is possible that a person sometimes does not realize that he has discovered this truth, because time may also be needed for the truth to show its confirmation. In any case, a person who has come upon such a truth must remain faithful to it. The truth does not save him from sin and disobedience, from error and flaw; rather, it directs him to go from these things toward light and brightness. It keeps rescuing him from darkness and gloom and calling him to the true goal. In any case, one does not turn away from the truth because of the shortcomings of those who appear to be people of this truth. Rather, one lives faithful to this truth. Let no one say, “We took you for a person of truth, yet you are so full of errors and sins – what is your word and your path worth?” For saying this is a trait of the blind and the common rabble; secondly, the reality of what has appeared to you is evident to the Truth. What you see with the eye of a servant, the Truth sees constantly with His attribute of the All-Seeing. Entrust that servant's affair to the Truth, but stand firm on the truth yourself. Do not turn away from the Truth and from the deeds the truth demands.

Akrom MALIK