The question was posed: “Do you accept the oath of allegiance from people in the general manner of other saints and spiritual guides or have you been commanded by Allah the Exalted to do so?” The Promised Messiah (as) said: “I accept the oath of allegiance from the people by divine command. I have already published an announcement stating that I have received the following revelation from God:
اَ لَّذِيْنَ يُبَايِعُوْنَكَ اِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُوْنَ اللهَ یَدُ اللّٰہِ فَوْقَ اَیْدِیْھِمْ
Those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands.
The Promised Messiah (as) said: “To find deliverance from the bondage of one’s passions and sins, one must nurture in their heart a fear of Allah Almighty. When the grandeur and omnipotence of God is established in one’s heart to a greater degree than anything else, sins are dispelled. In many cases, even when a doctor cautions someone, this will affect their heart to such an extent that the person is led to death. Why then would the fear of God have no effect? One ought to keep an account of their age. One ought to remember those friends and relatives who were with them before but have now left this world. The days of health race by in a person’s life while they are in a state of heedlessness. One should endeavour to keep the fear of Allah dominant over one’s heart. Until an individual abandons their endless desires and brings a death upon themselves, they cannot be saved from heedlessness. One ought to remain engaged in prayer until God sends down a light by His grace. He who seeks, finds.”
The Promised Messiah (as) said: “It is narrated in the Hadith that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: ‘When the Messiah comes, convey to him my greetings of peace.’ One ought to reflect on the deeper meaning of this Hadith. If the Messiah, peace be upon him, was alive in heaven, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, met him on the night of his spiritual ascension to the heavens. Then, Gabriel (as) came to the Holy Prophet (sas) every day from heaven, why did he not just convey his greetings of peace to the Messiah (as) through him? Further, the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went to heaven also after his demise and the Messiah (as) was there as well. Moreover, the Messiah (as) was destined to return after meeting the Noble Messenger (sas) himself. What then is the logic in the people of the earth conveying to the Messiah greetings of peace from the Holy Prophet (sas)? Would Jesus (as) not respond to such people saying: ‘I have come after meeting with the Holy Prophet (sas), why do you convey greetings to me on his behalf?’ This would be like you telling me what happens in my own home. This demonstrates that the doctrine and belief of the Noble Messenger (sas) and his companions was that the Messiah (as) had died, that he could not return to the world, and that the Messiah whose advent was destined in the ummah would appear as a spiritual manifestation.”
A question was posed that people tend to succumb quickly to foul deeds and derive pleasure from them, which may lead one to presume that even such deeds give man a sense of fulfilment. The Promised Messiah (as) said: “In a very hidden and indiscernible manner, certain things begin to reflect the nature of the original source and derive characteristics in a partial sense from the actual essence, as is the case with songs and beautiful voices. However, in actuality, true pleasure can be derived from nothing but the love of Allah Almighty. The proof of this is that those who love the things of this world ultimately repent of this state, and exhibit apprehension and anxiety. For example, every transgressor and wrongdoer shows contrition when the time of punishment or execution comes. However, those who love Allah the Exalted are bestowed such steadfastness that even if a thousand pains are inflicted upon them, or they are beaten or murdered, they do not flinch. If what they had attained was not the true essence, and if it was not in complete harmony with the inherent nature of man, they would not have been able to stand firm with steadfastness in the face of death, tens of millions of times. This is sufficient proof of the fact that the course which these people have followed is what most closely accords with the nature of man. Further, in the least, 124,000 men have set a seal on the truthfulness of this fact through their life and character.”
The Promised Messiah (as) said: “In the next life, a believer will be blessed with a magnificent manifestation of paradise, but even in this world they are bestowed a hidden paradise. The statement that this world is a prison or sijnun for a believer only refers to the initial state in which a person places themselves within the confines of the shariah and has not yet become fully accustomed to it; that time is a painful period for such an individual. For such a one removes themselves from the freedom of irreligiousness and places oneself in the captivity of divine commandments against the inclination of the baser self. Ultimately, however, such a person develops so great an attachment that the very same state becomes a paradise for them. The likeness of such an individual is like a person who falls in love with someone in a prison. Do you think that such a one would ever want to leave that prison?”
The question was posed as to whether it was permissible to supplicate in the Prayer in one’s own tongue. The Promised Messiah (as) said: “All languages are created by God. One ought to offer supplications in the Prayer in a language that one understands well. For this has an influence on the heart, in order to produce humility and meekness. The Word of God must be recited in Arabic and you should remember its meaning, but you are of course free to offer supplications in your own language. Those people who offer their Prayer in haste and then offer long supplications after it has ended are unacquainted of the deeper reality in this connection. The time for supplication is in the formal Prayer. Supplicate profusely during the Prayer.”