Tenth Assembly (Khwan-Pur-Nemat)

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: It is commonly held by people that the rank of anybody in the next life depends on how much fasting, prayer, struggle with self and austerity he has per- formed during this life. Such a person is known as a 'traveler'. Besides these, there are so many other types of worship, such as service; the acquisition of what is necessary for one's family; putting oneself out for the sake of one's brother Muslims and such like things. Well now, can anyone who practices these things be called a 'traveler', and can he make progress and advance along the Path just as by fasting and praying? The Venerable Master replied: Yes, there is progress in these things also, just as in fasting and praying, because as far as arriving is concerned, all are equal. Just as fasting and prayer are prescribed works so too are all of those other things. There is no difference at this level yet, from the point of view that fasting, and prayer are forms of worship especially ordained towards God and not reverting to anybody else, they are superior to others.

Again, he said: Those other forms of worship are such that they benefit somebody else, whereas prayer and fasting benefit the person who undertakes them. Hence it is fitting that the former be more excellent than the latter. He replied: Although prayer and fasting do benefit the person who prays or fasts, that is incidental, not intentional. Even if the Law made no promise of merit for those who comply with the prescriptions concerning prayer and fasting, they would still be obligatory. The fact that an act benefits the person it originates from is incidental, not intentional, for it is ordained to the Lord.

In the meantime, the Helpless One said: It is written that goods are more excellent than the body for the reason that they pass on to another. Hence they benefit somebody else.

He replied: Yes and this is borne out in what is auxiliary, but all are equal where obligatory matters are concerned.

In this connection Qazi Ashrafuddin said: There are very many promises connected with service to one's mother, while there is no clear personal gain from prayer and fasting. Hence the former should be superior to the latter. He replied: Yes, this would be an excellent thing, as it is mentioned in the Law of Islam that service rendered to one's mother is superior to four things: prayer, fasting, almsgiving and pilgrimage. This involves many acts of superordination.

Qazi Ashrafuddin said: It is commonly held by people that the rank of anybody in the next life depends on how much fasting, prayer, struggle with self and austerity he has per- formed during this life. Such a person is known as a 'traveler'. Besides these, there are so many other types of worship, such as service; the acquisition of what is necessary for one's family; putting oneself out for the sake of one's brother Muslims and such like things. Well now, can anyone who practices these things be called a 'traveler', and can he make progress and advance along the Path just as by fasting and praying? The Venerable Master replied: Yes, there is progress in these things also, just as in fasting and praying, because as far as arriving is concerned, all are equal. Just as fasting and prayer are prescribed works so too are all of those other things. There is no difference at this level yet, from the point of view that fasting, and prayer are forms of worship especially ordained towards God and not reverting to anybody else, they are superior to others.

Again, he said: Those other forms of worship are such that they benefit somebody else, whereas prayer and fasting benefit the person who undertakes them. Hence it is fitting that the former be more excellent than the latter. He replied: Although prayer and fasting do benefit the person who prays or fasts, that is incidental, not intentional. Even if the Law made no promise of merit for those who comply with the prescriptions concerning prayer and fasting, they would still be obligatory. The fact that an act benefits the person it originates from is incidental, not intentional, for it is ordained to the Lord.

In the meantime, the Helpless One said: It is written that goods are more excellent than the body for the reason that they pass on to another. Hence they benefit somebody else.

He replied: Yes and this is borne out in what is auxiliary, but all are equal where obligatory matters are concerned.

In this connection Qazi Ashrafuddin said: There are very many promises connected with service to one's mother, while there is no clear personal gain from prayer and fasting. Hence the former should be superior to the latter. He replied: Yes, this would be an excellent thing, as it is mentioned in the Law of Islam that service rendered to one's mother is superior to four things: prayer, fasting, almsgiving and pilgrimage. This involves many acts of superordination.