The Differences Between Worship and Frailty

1. The Differences Between Worship and Frailty In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.O you people, worship...Qur’an, 2:21 This presentation was based on the Third Word; part of the Risale-i Nur Collection written by the late scholarBediüzzaman Said Nursi

2. If you want to understand what great profit and happiness lie in worship, and what great loss and ruin lie in vice and dissipation listen to and pay attention to the following short symbolic story:

3. One time, two soldiers received orders to proceed to a distant city. They set off and travelled together until they reached fork in the road. At the fork was a man who said to them:

4. “While the road on the left provides no advantages, and nine out of ten of its travellers experience loss.” “The road on the right causes no loss at all, and nine out of ten of its travellers receive a high profit and experience great ease.” 9 10 “Both roads are the same length. There is only one difference:

5. After the two soldiers had listened to what this instructive man had to say, “Whereas those who take the right road must submit to military order, are compelled to carry their own food and heavy weapon in case of attack.” Those who take the left road, which has no rules and no one in authority, travel without baggage and arms. They feel an apparent lightness and ease.

6. One soldier took the right road. He loaded heavy burden onto his back, but his heart and spirit were saved from fear and feeling obliged to others until he reached the city. There he received a reward worthy of an honourable soldier who had fully carried out his duty.

7. The other soldier took the left road. He left the army and did not want to conform to the orders. He was released from bearing a heavy load. But his heart was suffered from anxieties and innumerable fears before every object and every event. When He reached any city, he was punished as a rebellious and escapee.

8. The realities of this story… O rebellious soul! Knows that: One of those two travellers represents those who submit to God,

9. While the other represents the rebellious and those who follow their own desires.

10. The road is the road of life, which comes from the Spirit World, passes through the grave, and continues to the hereafter.

11. The Heavy load and weapon are worship and fear of God. There is an apparent burden in worship, but it yields indescribable ease and lightness.For in the prescribed prayers the worshipper declares:“I bear witness that there is no god but God.” That is he is believing and says, “There is no Creator and Provider other than Him. He does nothing in vain. His bounty and mercies are abundant.”

12. Moreover, he sees that everything is subjugated to the command of his own Sustainer, soHe takes refuge in Him. He places his trust in Him, and He is strengthened against every disaster; His belief gives him complete confidence.

13. It is possible that even if the earth became a bomb and exploded, it would not frighten him who is a worshipper. He might even consider it a marvel of God.

14. But when a famous philosopher saw a comet in the sky, he trembled on the ground, and exclaimed anxiously: “Isn’t that comet going to hit the earth?” (On one occasion, many American people left their homes in the middle of the night because of fear at such a comet.)

15. Although man is in need of numberless things, his capital is as nothing, and Although he is subject to endless calamities, his power too is as nothing. However, his hopes, desires, pains, and tribulations reach as far as the eye and the imagination can stretch.

16. Anyone who is not totally blind can see and understand that worship, affirmation of God’s unity, and reliance on God are a great profit, happiness, and bounty for the human spirit, which is impotent and weak and needy.

17. It is obvious that a safe way is preferable to a harmful way, even if the possibility of its safety is only one in ten. But on the way of worship, there is a nine out of ten possibility of it leading to eternal happiness.

18. The way of vice and dissipation ends in eternal misery. There is a nine out of ten possibility of it leading to eternal wretchedness.

19. In Short:Just like bliss of the hereafter, happiness in this world also depends on worship and being a servant of Almighty God. In which case, we should constantly say: “Praise be to God for obedience to him and success,” and we should thank Him that we are Muslims...

20. I E F A Intercultural Education and Friendship Association www.kadder.org.tr KADDER This presentation was compiled from Words Book of Risale-i Nur Collection.