EVIL THOUGHTS AND EVIL DEEDS

A Muslim is Allah�s prodigal son as well as His spoiled child.  His past is forgotten unless it is good, his future is assured, and many things are permissible for him that are not permissible for a polytheist or even for a Jew or a Christian, the Peoples of the Book.  Jesus spoke of �lusting with the eyes� regarding it as bad as lust in its more visible form.  But Muhammad gave greater latitude to his followers: �Verily Allah forgave my people the evil promptings which arise within their hearts as long as they did not speak about them or did not act upon them� (230).  This idea is expressed with less partiality and in more universal terms in the Indian spiritual tradition.  God knows that man is weak and forgives his lapses and failure but supports his strength and multiplies his good.  The less theistic but not less exalted yogic systems would put this idea somewhat differently and in more psychological terms-we should not harp too obsessively on our lapses, but should dwell more lovingly on the Divine within us.

author: ram sawrup