Fifth Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: Many travelers halt at mosques. Have you seen any tradition in this connection?

The Venerable Master replied: I have not noticed anything. It is astonishing that permission has been granted in this matter. It is disputed as to when eating in a mosque is lawful. Some hold that it is lawful on the supposition that a person intends to remain secluded in the mosque. It has been said concerning such a person: 'Let him eat!' Otherwise, there would be no eating.

The Helpless One said, If somebody takes an oath without using the name of God but by calling upon something else as, for example, his mother, father, spiritual guide or teacher, would it be lawful or not?

He replied: It would not be. It is written in Kanz-ul-Masa'il (A Store of Sayings): 'If people had not been habituated to this, I would have written that anybody who swears by anything other than God's name commits infidelity. He added: There is a tradition from the Apostle which says: 'Whoever takes an oath in any name other than that of God, inevitably commits infidelity.

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: Many travelers halt at mosques. Have you seen any tradition in this connection?

The Venerable Master replied: I have not noticed anything. It is astonishing that permission has been granted in this matter. It is disputed as to when eating in a mosque is lawful. Some hold that it is lawful on the supposition that a person intends to remain secluded in the mosque. It has been said concerning such a person: 'Let him eat!' Otherwise, there would be no eating.

The Helpless One said, If somebody takes an oath without using the name of God but by calling upon something else as, for example, his mother, father, spiritual guide or teacher, would it be lawful or not?

He replied: It would not be. It is written in Kanz-ul-Masa'il (A Store of Sayings): 'If people had not been habituated to this, I would have written that anybody who swears by anything other than God's name commits infidelity. He added: There is a tradition from the Apostle which says: 'Whoever takes an oath in any name other than that of God, inevitably commits infidelity.