Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, The True Islam — Page 457
− regardless of the amount under consideration. The said document should then be witnessed and a prepayment period should be fixed. The person taking the loan should formulate this document. If they are under age, etc. , then someone should act on their behalf. There are similar instructions about all pacts and contracts. It is directed that there should be no interest involved in all pacts and partnerships. "Interest" means, one party lays a clause, that in return of the usage of their money or goods, they would receive a fixed amount of money or goods or would receive the money or goods loaned on a fixed rate. Indeed, a partnership based on the principles of business whereby both or all parties are equally responsible and have equal rights to receive profit and loss on a fixed rate, is admissible and is not objectionable. (Letter to a Dear One, Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, pp 99-100) ± ± − PLACING FLOWERS ON GRAVES Placing flowers on the graves of deceased relatives is considered as an expression of love for them. However, this is not in line with the teachings of Islam. This imitation of non-Muslim − practice is an undesirable innovation ( ) in religion. It is Bid‘at against the spirit of Islam. Love for the deceased relatives can best − be expressed in the form of prayers to Allah for forgiveness of the − departed soul and elevation of his/her spiritual station. BIRTHDAYS Muslims, especially Ahmadis, do not celebrate birthdays in ± − the same fashion as they are celebrated in Western society. A birthday is seen as the decrease of the life span by a year, thus a cause for prayer rather than a celebration. Muslims take part in national holidays, such as Independence day and Thanksgiving day, but do not celebrate Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine's day. 457