Due to repetition of each act- whether good or evil- soul will get used to a temper which will be fixed for him and will change to personality. When it is repeated, it will change to a nature and a specifications which has changed to one’s nature will no more be separated from one’s soul. If the nature is good, it will lead us to attainment, if it is bad, it will lead us to the worst. 

If a man studies, he will find more comprehensions and if he continues his will is going to be more powerful and will avoid the bad act. Even it does not let the bad act repeat. God prescribes: “We have hung destination of each person on his neck as his necklace, and we will give him a letter on the resurrection day so that he would see it opened.” (Sura: Asra,  Verse: 13) Even if we enter paradise, the necklace of good or evil is hung on our neck. We will be shameful among those who enter paradise and shout Alas! While in this limited world, we have governed and we will be limited in the unlimited world (the hereinafter) and we will not be entitled to enter paradise.

In fact, only a group of people will be free in the paradise “The people who were worshiping God will be first ones who enter paradise”, Sura: Vagheeh, Verse: 11-10). We should aim at reaching this degree. We should feel free at resurrection day, so that when the letter of our acts is opened, our breeching rights of Allah, rights of the people, rights of the souls, the minor or major sins are not revealed. So we should take care and we should seek the truth not the appearance of this life.

THE RESULT OF PURIFICAITON OF MORALS:

The result of morals purification is the eternal prosperity. It means that guarantee of both worlds. This result is obtained when we remove all the moral diseases and evil acts. When we are totally improved, we will reach the eternal prosperity. One who seeks eternal prosperity does not retaliate, does not ask others for their details of works, and ask God Himself to punish any evil work. For the same reason, Imam Ali (p.b.u.h.) did not receive his rights and assigned it to God and kept silent for the sake of God and Islam for 25 years. Improvement of soul, means being friend with both one’s friends and foes. When soul is improved, it is strong. The soul is so much strong that it waits like Hazrat Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) and does not think about anything but about satisfaction of God. He lived enjoying properties and means and no one was like him in wealth. He had many children, much properties and wealth and cattle of cow and camel.

God took out from him suddenly in an earthquake everything; but he only said: “Thank God”. God contracted him to an infectious disease, to examine him, though his body had no bad smelling because he was a prophet, but the people were afraid they would be contracted with his disease, so they expelled him from that city. Hazrat Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) said: “Thank God”. wife of Hazrat Ayoub placed him in the ruins and was working at the houses of the people to provide for their living costs. When the people understood that she was wife of Ayoub (p.b.u.h.), they expelled her from the city, but again he said: “Thank God.”  They took a handful of dust and throw it on him and he said: “God! How Can I Thank You?” wife of Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) was taking him to show him to the caravans which were passing, so that the caravans would feel mercy and would help him. Again Ayoub was thanking God. His wife protested: “You are prophet of God” Why don’t you ask God to return to us your health and our children and our wealth? Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) was bothered and decided to punish his wife, because she had told him to request God! which showed dissatisfaction with God’s wish. After examining Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) for many years, God returned to him all his properties, assets, wealth, beauty, and health. The prophet had been admitted in the examinations and God returned to him all the things He had suddenly took out of him. Behavior of Ayoub (p.b.u.h.) was the same as good faith, purification of morals, and consequently reaching the eternal prosperity. If we reach the same degree, so that we thank God always in the seconds of our lives when we are happy or sorrowful, we will reach the eternal prosperity.  [ in fact if we are like this, happiness and sadness will be equal to us.]

When self is powerful, it will be single. Its being single means that it is separated from the world and all the other people and the universe, it means that it is only with God. When it happens the soul will be no more disturbed, but it is only him and God. So, purification of morals will lead to soul and separated self which is the same as eternal prosperity.

It should be noted that soul will be strong in evil too and this evil queen will pale by thinking about God. it has been mentioned in Quran: “Soul will always order to evil, except if God feels mercy and my God is beneficent. (Sura: Yousef, Verse: 53)

If we are hopeful to mercy of God, the power governing us will be removed relying on God. Repetition of prayers without practice will not be certain and this has been mentioned at divine verses.

If we enjoy divine science and go to China as it is narrated from prophet of God to obtain divine knowledge- not the knowledge in appearance- even if we go to China, it will be a good act. Of course we only take into consideration the knowledge in appearance. Knowledge of God will bring us light. Because it is known to nature of man. In fact divine knowledge and inner knowledge are both the same which are light of knowledge. The light which makes us observe God.

Imam Ali (p.b.u.h.) prescribed: “I do not worship God I can not behold” such a beholding is not fulfilled in appearance and by material eye, but such a beholding takes place by eyes of the heart and the inner light. God should be comprehended in the clearest way and this occurs when purification of soul is completed and everything is divine.

To better understand this matter, we should start discussion of the four powers. The four powers is the initial discourse of purification of soul mentioned at the book: Merajol Saadat which will be explained in the next session.