Conditions of Bai'at and Responsibilities of an Ahmadi — Page 104
C ONDITIONS OF B AI ‘ AT AND R ESPONSIBILITIES OF AN A H MAD I 104 religious marriage ceremony. All other customs are frivolous. First, when showing off the dowery from either side, those who are well-off want to show that they are giving more than their counterparts did in their marriage. All of this is worldly competition and show. These days, there are many among you whom Allah the Almighty has blessed greatly after migration 63. This is one of the blessings of joining the Jam a ‘at of the Promised Messiah as. It is a consequence of the sacrifices made by your forefathers and a blessing resulting from the supplications offered by them. But there are some who, instead of being thankful by bowing before Allah the Almighty and spending in His way, become a prey to self-exultation and demonstration by exces- sive spending in marriages. A lot of food is wasted in marriage celebrations and wal i - mahs [reception given by husband after the marriage has been consummated]. Many dishes are prepared for public display. As a consequence, those who are not so well-off go into debt in order to have bridal dowery to display publicly. Some parents have to go into debt for fear of criticisms from their in-laws that their daughter has not brought much dowery with her. The groom’s family should fear Allah. Do not permit your poor in-laws to go into debt in order to maintain your own false sense of self-esteem because the claim you make is that you are Ahmad i s and are committed to abide by the ten conditions of bai‘at. 63. The reference is to members of the Jam a ‘at who have migrated from the rule of oppressive Islamic governments to western countries for religious freedom.