Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 304
304 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad One Ought to Express Happiness for the Bounties of God Almighty Remember that one who is not joyful on receiving the bounty of God Almighty and who does not practically express this joy is not sincere. In my view, if some- one sings the bounty of God Almighty all year long, this is better than the person who mourns for a year. Such practices which are against the instructions of God and His Messenger , or which are tainted by the association of partners with God or ostentation, and which serve to stroke one’s own ego, are all classed as sin, and they are forbidden. The reason it is necessary for a wedding to be announced by the beating of a drum is so that if a dispute arises in the future, this announcement may serve as a form of testimony. Similarly, on a marriage engagement or agree- ment, if someone distributes sweets so that the newly formed bond is strength- ened, then this is not a sin. However, if this is not the intention and the purpose is only to garner renown and to boast, then this is not permissible. Similarly, in my view, the use of trumpets is also lawful, for there is nothing in this that is against the shariah, so long as one’s intention is not corrupt. On certain occasions, dis- putes arise in the matter of marriages, and lawsuits are filed on issues related to inheritance. When a formal announcement of marriage has been made, such court cases can be simply and easily settled. If a marriage has taken place quietly and no one has any idea of it, on certain occasions such relationships are deemed unlawful in legal terms and the children of such parents are deprived of their rights of inheritance. So, such practices are not only permissible, they are incum- bent, because they aid the settlement of verdicts that relate to law. When my sons were born, I have on occasion, celebrated their aqiqah by inviting upwards of even 2,000 people to partake in a feast. Allah the Exalted knows very well that my purpose in this was to ensure that the prophecy made before the birth of each child is openly announced. Ill-Thinking Ill-thinking causes one’s good deeds to be wasted. It is written in Tadhkirat-ul- Awliya that an individual made a covenant with Allah Almighty that they would consider themselves worse than all others. One time he went to the river and saw a young lady accompanied by a man, and both of them were sitting together very happily. In this instance, the person submitted to God: ‘O Lord, at least I am bet- ter than this man, for modesty eludes him. ’ During this time a boat arrived and p. 277