Eleventh Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: Can the fact that some people look for a blessing at the tombs of holy men and offer food for the sake of the departed soul be construed as a proof that the person was a saint? The Venerable Master replied: Yes, it is a sign of his sanctity and goodness before God.

Again, he asked: If a person makes an intention over the food he customarily eats for his daily sustenance, saying 'I offer this for the soul of so and so, how would that be? He replied: His intention is to nourish himself, not to eat for the sake of so and so for, even if he did not make any such intention, he would still cook and eat. Afterwards he added: When a believer eats, he performs an act of worship. After eating, if he says: 'I offer the merit that I have acquired for the soul of so and so, this good intention is laudable. For this reason, if he does so, this will come to pass.

Again, he said: When people recite the 'Fatiha for the soul of somebody, if they also make this intention in their heart, 'I offer this for the sake of the soul of so and so, but do not say these words out loud, how would that be? He replied: It would be sufficient, but if they were to recite it as well, it would be better for, with regard to intention it is said: 'Intention is in the heart. Moreover, it is a good thing to take it on one's lips.' This is because it is a form of worship. Thus, it is clear that, if it is spoken out, there is an increase of merit and there is added worship, but this does not resemble the basic point. What is the need for speaking out aloud? If one does so, however, it would be for the sake of confirming and reiterating it.

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: Can the fact that some people look for a blessing at the tombs of holy men and offer food for the sake of the departed soul be construed as a proof that the person was a saint? The Venerable Master replied: Yes, it is a sign of his sanctity and goodness before God.

Again, he asked: If a person makes an intention over the food he customarily eats for his daily sustenance, saying 'I offer this for the soul of so and so, how would that be? He replied: His intention is to nourish himself, not to eat for the sake of so and so for, even if he did not make any such intention, he would still cook and eat. Afterwards he added: When a believer eats, he performs an act of worship. After eating, if he says: 'I offer the merit that I have acquired for the soul of so and so, this good intention is laudable. For this reason, if he does so, this will come to pass.

Again, he said: When people recite the 'Fatiha for the soul of somebody, if they also make this intention in their heart, 'I offer this for the sake of the soul of so and so, but do not say these words out loud, how would that be? He replied: It would be sufficient, but if they were to recite it as well, it would be better for, with regard to intention it is said: 'Intention is in the heart. Moreover, it is a good thing to take it on one's lips.' This is because it is a form of worship. Thus, it is clear that, if it is spoken out, there is an increase of merit and there is added worship, but this does not resemble the basic point. What is the need for speaking out aloud? If one does so, however, it would be for the sake of confirming and reiterating it.