Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 98
Malf uza t - English translation of Urdu Volume 9 98 the mosques, neighbourhoods and the poor according to their needs. What is the directive of the Promised Messiah as in this respect? The Promised Messiah as responded: The food that is distributed, its reward does reach the deceased but not to the same degree as if the deceased had done so him- self during his lifetime. It was submitted to the Promised Messiah as that funds are distributed among the poor as a right for their service. The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, said: Then there is no harm in this. This is a different matter alto- gether. A person should be compensated for his services. It was submitted that these actions do carry pride and ostentation, that is, it is in the heart of the donor that others will proclaim him to be a person of status. The Promised Messiah as said: This expenditure is not undertaken to earn [spiritual] merit to begin with, it is compensation for service. To openly carry out some deeds is permitted under the Shariah, for example, giving alms, etc. , the directive to offer Prayers in congregation, so that they act as a means of encouragement for others. There are occa- sions for deeds to be carried out openly and secretly. The truth of the matter is that the Shariah does not forbid all customs. If it were so, then riding a train and seeking information through telegram and post, all would have been deemed innovations.