Conditions of Bai'at and Responsibilities of an Ahmadi — Page 146
C ONDITIONS OF B AI ‘ AT AND R ESPONSIBILITIES OF AN A H MAD I 146 about God as about the snake, or the lightening, or the lion, or the plague, then it is not possible for you to defy Him nor to break the ties of sincerity and loyalty with Him. ( Kasht i -e- N uh , R uha n i Khaz a’ in , vol. 19, pp. 66–67) The Promised Messiah as also said: Perfect understanding is the root of fear, love and appreciation. Whoever is given the prefect knowledge is given the perfec- tion of fear and love as well. Whoever is given perfect fear and love is given freedom from every sin that originates from reck- lessness. For this salvation, we are not dependent on any blood, we are not in need of any cross, and we do not need any penance. Instead, we only need one sacrifice, the sacrifice of the ‘self ’. Its need is felt by our conscience, and this sacri- fice is named Islam. Islam entails putting out your own neck for sacrifice. It means to put your soul on the threshold of God with total willingness. This charming name is the soul of all revealed laws and the crux of all commandments. To put out one’s neck to be sacrificed with real pleasure and content- ment requires perfect love and perfect devotion. Perfect love requires perfect understanding. Thus, the word Islam points to the fact that true sacrifice needs perfect understanding and perfect love. And it needs nothing else. ( Lecture Lahore , R uha n i Khaz a’ in , vol. 20, pp. 151–152) May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to act upon all these exhortations.