CoB.book Page 172 Tuesday, June 6, 2006 9:46 AM
CONDITIONS OF BAI‘AT AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN AHMADI
This verse emphasizes that the pledge of bai‘at should be taken from women so that they will not perform shirk, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill their children (i.e. they will be mindful of proper upbringing of their children), nor accuse anyone falsely, and nor disobey in anything good. Here, the question arises whether a Prophet, who is appointed by Allah, can ever give a command that is not good. If a Prophet can do so, then can a Khalifah also give commands that are not good? In this regard, it must be clearly understood that a Prophet can never give any such command. A Prophet will only say what is right; he will not say anything otherwise. That is why at many places in the Holy Qur’an it is mentioned that one must obey the commands of Allah and His Prophetsa, and one must carry them out. Nowhere is it specified that you are to obey only the good commands. The question then arises, why are there two different instructions? As a matter of fact, these are not differing instructions. Some people have made an error in understanding them. So, as I said earlier, all commandments coming from a Prophet are good. A Prophet can never give a command that is against the command of Allah or the commands of the shari‘ah. He is appointed by Allah to carry out those commands so how can he go against them? It is good news for you that by accepting the Prophet—the one commissioned by God—and by entering into his fold, you have become secure because no command given to you is wrong. Every command given to you is favoured by Allah.
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