Conditions of Bai'at and Responsibilities of an Ahmadi — Page 46
C ONDITIONS OF B AI ‘ AT AND R ESPONSIBILITIES OF AN A H MAD I 46 That is, higher in status than the believers of the third rank are those who guard themselves against the carnal passions and unlawful lust. This rank is higher than the third rank because at the third rank one only sacrifices wealth that is dear to him. But a believer at the fourth rank sacrifices something that is dearer to him than wealth—the carnal passions. Man is so enamored with his carnal passions that he spends large sums to satisfy his lust. He gives no importance to wealth when pursuing such desires. It has been observed that there are many stingy people who do not give a penny to the needy, but destroy their households by spending large amounts on visiting women of ill repute. It is thus established that the carnal passions are a fierce flood that carries with it a filthy habit like stinginess. It is therefore obvious, that in comparison with the strength of faith that cures stinginess and prepares one to part with his beloved property for the sake of Allah, a much stronger and long-lasting faith in combating Satan is required to safeguard oneself from the deluge of carnal passions, because such faith tramples under its foot the old serpent called Nafs-e-’Amm a rah [the self that incites to evil]. As far as stinginess is concerned, it can be avoided during times of satis- fying the carnal passions or for ostentation and show, but this deluge that is raised by the upsurge of carnal passions is a very severe and long-lasting deluge that cannot be averted except with the mercy of Allah. Just as the bone is the hardest part and longest living in the components of the body, so too the strength of faith needed for safeguarding from this deluge is hardest and longest lasting so that it may persist in combating this enemy for a long time. And that too with the mercy of Allah, because the deluge of carnal passions is such a devastating