Fazle Umar
Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] and the system of Wasiyyat The gap between the rich and the poor is the widest it has ever been in the history of mankind and continues to grow ever wider concentrating wealth into fewer and fewer hands. Religion cannot cater for man’s moral and spiritual needs in isolation without considering his individual, social, political and economic needs. The Promised Messiah [as] laid the foundation of a New World Order by introducing a scheme, called “Wasiyyat” (a Will or testamentary direction). According to it, the testator promises, on his own free will, to lead a life of righteousness dedicated to the service of God and mankind and paying at least one-tenth (or a maximum of one-third) of his income and property. If he owns a house or some other property, anywhere in the world, he must pay one-tenth of its valued price. Upon the death of such a person, his case will be reviewed and circumstances permitting he shall be buried in the Bahishti Maqbara (Heavenly Graveyard). This is not an innovation thought up by the founder of the Community. The Holy Qur’an clearly mentions the concept of Al-Wasiyyat (The Will) in the following words “Surely Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their property in return for the heavenly Garden they shall have…” (Ch. 9:V.111) This verse is amplified by the verse of The Holy Qur’an, “you cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…” (Ch.3:V.93) The word used in this verse for righteousness is Al-Birra, which means goodness and righteousness of a high order. It means that one must be prepared to sacrifice everything that one holds dear in order to attain true faith which is the essence of all righteousness. The Holy Qur’an says, “When Paradise is brought nigh” (Ch.81:V.14). Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] in a sermon delivered on 26th August 1932 in explaining
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