Malfuzat - Volume IX — Page 174
174 MALFŪZĀT - ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF URDU VOLUME 9 UNDATED Distributing Sweet Drinks & Rice on 10th Muharram Qādī Zuhūr-ud-Din Akmal raised a question and asked the directive of the Promised Messiahas regarding the distribution of sweet drinks and rice, etc. , on the tenth of Muharram with the intention of gaining spiritual reward from Allah. The Promised Messiahs said: To fix a day and a time for such activities is a custom and an innovation. Gradually, such customs lead to shirk [associating partners with Allah], therefore, one should avoid such practices because their outcome is not good. Though initially it might have been with the same intent, it has now taken the form of shirk and is in the name of other than Allah, therefore, I declare it to be unlawful. False beliefs are not removed until such cus- toms are eradicated. Friday Prayer Services with Two People This matter was presented that if there are two Ahmadis in a village, can they observe the Friday Prayer services or not. Maulawi Muhammad Ahsan was addressed (by the Promised Messiahas) and he submitted that the Congregational Prayer can be observed with two people; hence, the Friday Prayer can also be observed. The Promised Messiahas said: Yes, they can observe the Friday Prayer service. Jurists have recorded a minimum of three people [for this Prayer service]. If there is only one individual, he can complete the count by having his wife, etc. stand behind him.